Is It Forty or *Fourty? | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Forty (40) is a cardinal number (i.e., a number used to indicate quantity). Like other words for numbers, it can be grammatically classified as a determiner, adjective, noun, or pronoun.
‘Fourty’ is sometimes used instead of forty, but this is incorrect. Although ‘four’ is the correct spelling of 4, ‘fourty’ is not a real word and should be avoided. The same applies when forty is used as part of a larger number (e.g., ‘forty-four’, ‘one-hundred-forty’).
- The train was delayed by fourty minutes.
- The train was delayed by forty minutes.
- Fourty is divisible by four.
- Forty is divisible by four.
A Scribbr Grammar Check can help make sure you’re using words like ‘forty’ correctly in your writing.
How to use forty in a sentence
Like all cardinal numbers, forty can be used as a determiner (specifically a quantifier) to modify or describe a noun. It can also be used as a noun when referring to the number itself or as a pronoun when it refers to a previously mentioned noun.
Forty is a whole number.
Karla invited eighty guests but only forty showed up to the party.
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US vs. UK spellings
Frequently asked questions
- How do I pronounce forty?
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Forty has two syllables. It’s pronounced with emphasis on the first syllable: [for-tee]. In US English, the ‘tee’ may sound more like ‘dee’ [for-dee].
- Are numbers adjectives?
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Cardinal numbers (e.g., one, two, three) can be placed before a noun to indicate quantity (e.g., one apple). While these are sometimes referred to as ‘numeral adjectives‘, they are more accurately categorised as determiners or quantifiers.
- Is it fourty-five or forty-five?
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Forty-five is the correct spelling. While ‘fourty’ is sometimes used instead of forty, ‘fourty’ is not a real word and should be avoided.
- Is it forty or fourty dollars?
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Forty dollars is correct. Forty is the correct spelling of the cardinal number used to indicate a quantity of something. ‘Fourty’ is sometimes used instead of forty, but this is incorrect.
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Ryan, E. (2024, October 08). Is It Forty or *Fourty? | Meaning, Spelling & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 December 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/common-errors/fourty-or-forty/
