If you have ever typed “4rth or 4th” and paused before hitting send, you are definitely not alone. Ordinal numbers can be surprisingly easy to get wrong, especially when writing quickly or trying to turn a number into its abbreviated form.
The correct abbreviation is 4th. The spelling 4rth is incorrect in standard English. The full word is fourth, which refers to something that comes after the third and before the fifth.
Whether you are writing a date, ranking, school assignment, business document, or casual message, knowing the difference between 4rth and 4th can help you avoid a simple but noticeable spelling mistake.
4rth or 4th: What Is the Correct Form?
The correct form is 4th.
- Correct: 4th
- Incorrect: 4rth
- Full spelling: fourth
For example:
Today is the 4th of October.
You could also write:
Today is the fourth of October.
Both 4th and fourth are correct. However, 4rth is not a standard English abbreviation.
Why Is 4th Correct?
The number 4 is written as four when spelled out. Its ordinal form is fourth, not “fourrth” or “fourrth”-based spelling.
When ordinal numbers are abbreviated, the ending generally comes from the letters at the end of the written ordinal word:
- First → 1st
- Second → 2nd
- Third → 3rd
- Fourth → 4th
- Fifth → 5th
- Sixth → 6th
- Seventh → 7th
- Eighth → 8th
- Ninth → 9th
- Tenth → 10th
That is why 4th is the appropriate abbreviation.
What Does 4th Mean?
4th is the abbreviated form of fourth, the ordinal number associated with four.
An ordinal number tells us the position or order of something rather than simply how many things there are.
For example:
- “I finished 4th in the race.”
- “She lives on the 4th floor.”
- “The meeting is on the 4th of November.”
- “This is my 4th attempt.”
In each sentence, 4th describes position, sequence, or order.
Cardinal Number vs. Ordinal Number
A useful way to understand 4th is to distinguish cardinal and ordinal numbers.
A cardinal number tells you how many:
I have four books.
An ordinal number tells you position:
I read the 4th book first.
So:
4 = four = cardinal number
4th = fourth = ordinal number
Why Is “4rth” Incorrect?
The spelling 4rth is usually the result of trying to abbreviate “fourth” by combining the number 4 with several letters from the word.
However, standard English does not form the abbreviation that way. The accepted abbreviated form is simply 4th.
The th ending is what matters because fourth ends with the sound and letters represented by “th.”
Therefore:
4 + th = 4th
not:
4 + rth = 4rth
Although people may understand what 4rth is intended to mean, it should be avoided in formal, academic, professional, and published writing.
4th vs. Fourth: When Should You Use Each?
Both forms are correct, but context can determine which one sounds better.
Use “4th” for Dates and Compact Writing
The abbreviation 4th is especially common when space and brevity matter.
Examples include:
- 4th July
- 4th Avenue
- 4th grade
- 4th floor
- 4th quarter
- 4th place
For example:
The event will take place on 4th July.
Use “Fourth” in Formal or Narrative Writing
Writing out the word can sometimes make a sentence feel more polished or natural.
For example:
This is the fourth time we have discussed the issue.
In formal prose, especially when numbers are not being used as labels, spelling out the ordinal may be preferable depending on the style guide being followed.
How to Write 4th in Dates
The abbreviation 4th is frequently used with dates.
Examples:
- January 4th
- March 4th
- April 4th
- July 4th
- October 4th
You can also write the date using the full ordinal:
January fourth
However, style conventions vary by region and publication.
In American English, January 4 is often preferred in formal writing, while January 4th is common in everyday writing.
In British English, you may commonly encounter forms such as 4 January.
The important point is that if you choose to use the ordinal abbreviation, it is 4th, not 4rth.
Is “4th” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. 4th is grammatically correct when an ordinal number is appropriate.
Consider these examples:
- He came 4th in the competition.
- She is in the 4th grade.
- We live on the 4th floor.
- The 4th chapter explains the concept.
- Their team finished 4th overall.
The grammatical issue is not whether 4th is valid. It is a standard abbreviation for fourth.
The main concern is choosing the correct style for the context.
Common Mistakes With 4th
People often make mistakes with ordinal numbers because the abbreviation rules are not always obvious.
Here are some common errors:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| 4rth | 4th |
| 4st | 4th |
| 4nd | 4th |
| 4rd | 4th |
| fourty-fourth | forty-fourth |
| fourd | fourth |
One especially common spelling mistake is confusing fourth with forms such as “fouth” or “fourth.”
The correct spelling is:
fourth
A Quick Guide to Ordinal Number Abbreviations
Understanding the pattern makes it easier to remember why 4th is correct.
1st — First
The ordinal form of one is first, so the abbreviation is 1st.
2nd — Second
The ordinal form of two is second, giving us 2nd.
3rd — Third
The ordinal form of three is third, giving us 3rd.
4th — Fourth
The ordinal form of four is fourth, giving us 4th.
5th Through 20th
Most numbers from five onward use th:
- 5th — fifth
- 6th — sixth
- 7th — seventh
- 8th — eighth
- 9th — ninth
- 10th — tenth
- 11th — eleventh
- 12th — twelfth
- 13th — thirteenth
- 14th — fourteenth
- 15th — fifteenth
- 16th — sixteenth
- 17th — seventeenth
- 18th — eighteenth
- 19th — nineteenth
- 20th — twentieth
This makes 4th relatively easy to remember: four becomes fourth, and the abbreviation ends in th.
Examples of 4th in a Sentence
Seeing the correct form in context is often the easiest way to remember it.
- Our meeting is scheduled for the 4th.
- She finished 4th in the tournament.
- My office is on the 4th floor.
- The 4th chapter contains the most important information.
- They moved into their new home on the 4th.
- He celebrated his 4th birthday with his family.
- The team reached 4th place in the competition.
- The store is located on 4th Street.
Notice that 4th works naturally when the number indicates position, sequence, or an ordinal date.
When Should You Spell Out “Fourth”?
There is no universal rule requiring you to use either 4th or fourth in every situation. The best choice depends on the writing style and context.
You may want to spell out fourth when:
- Writing formal prose
- Beginning a sentence
- Following a publication’s style guide
- Creating a more polished narrative style
- The number is being discussed as a word rather than used as a label
For example:
Fourth, we need to consider the cost.
Writing “4th” at the beginning of this sentence would generally look awkward.
By contrast:
She finished 4th in the race.
Here, the abbreviated form is perfectly natural.
4th in American and British English
The meaning of 4th does not change between American and British English. The main differences appear in style conventions, particularly when writing dates.
For example, American English commonly uses:
July 4
or informally:
July 4th
British English commonly uses:
4 July
The ordinal form itself remains:
fourth
and its abbreviation remains:
4th
So regardless of the English variety you use, 4rth is not the standard abbreviation.
Is 4rth Ever Acceptable?
In standard English writing, 4rth should be considered incorrect.
You might encounter it in:
- Informal online messages
- Social media posts
- Usernames
- Unedited text
- Typographical errors
- Casual texting
If someone writes 4rth, the intended meaning is usually obvious from context. Nevertheless, recognizing a word does not make its spelling standard.
For schoolwork, professional communication, websites, articles, official documents, and other polished writing, use 4th or fourth.
How to Remember the Correct Spelling
A simple memory trick is to think of the full word first:
Four → fourth → 4th
You do not need to insert every letter from “fourth” after the numeral. The standard abbreviation uses th.
Compare:
- one → first → 1st
- two → second → 2nd
- three → third → 3rd
- four → fourth → 4th
Once you remember that pattern, 4rth becomes much easier to identify as a mistake.
4rth or 4th: Quick Answer
If you only need the answer, here it is:
4th is correct. 4rth is incorrect.
The full word is fourth.
Use 4th when you want the abbreviated ordinal form, such as:
4th place
4th floor
4th July
4th chapter
For formal writing, you can also write fourth in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 4rth or 4th correct?
4th is correct. It is the standard abbreviation of fourth. “4rth” is not a standard English ordinal abbreviation.
What is the correct spelling of 4th?
The full spelling is fourth. The abbreviated form is 4th.
Is 4th an ordinal number?
Yes. 4th is an ordinal number because it describes the fourth position in a sequence. The cardinal number is 4, or four.
How do you spell fourth?
The correct spelling is fourth: f-o-u-r-t-h.
Why isn’t 4rth correct?
The standard abbreviation of fourth is formed as 4th, not by attaching “rth” to the numeral. “4rth” is therefore considered a misspelling or nonstandard form.
Is “4th” correct for dates?
Yes. 4th can be used as an ordinal date, such as July 4th. However, formal style guides may prefer July 4 or 4 July, depending on the variety of English and the publication’s style.
Should I write 4th or fourth in formal writing?
Both can be correct. Use the form that fits the context and any applicable style guide. In formal prose, fourth may read more naturally, while 4th is useful for dates, rankings, addresses, labels, and compact writing.
What comes after 3rd?
The next ordinal number is 4th, which is spelled fourth.
Is “4th” the same as “fourth”?
Yes. 4th is the abbreviated form of fourth.
Conclusion
When choosing between 4rth or 4th, there is a clear winner: 4th. The full ordinal word is fourth, and its standard abbreviation uses the th ending.
Remember the simple sequence: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. If you are writing a date, ranking, floor number, chapter, or another ordinal reference, 4th is the standard choice.
When in doubt, simply write fourth in full. And if you are polishing your English writing, checking other commonly confused abbreviations and ordinal numbers can help you avoid similar mistakes.
