When you want to show the position of something in a series or a sequence, you use ordinal numbers. For example, if you’re talking about a race, you might say someone came in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place.
The correct form is 60th. When expressing ordinal numbers in English, numbers ending in ‘0’ are followed by ‘th.’ For example, 20 becomes 20th, 30 becomes 30th, and similarly, 60 becomes 60th.
This rule helps in writing dates or placing things in order. For instance, if you’re celebrating a birthday, you would say, “This is my 60th birthday,” not “60st birthday.” Correct usage ensures clear communication and avoids confusion.
Understanding Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are used to describe the order of things—whether it’s the first, the second, or the 100th item. They are different from cardinal numbers (like one, two, three) which tell us about quantity.
How to Form Ordinal Numbers
Typically, you form an ordinal number by adding -th to the end of a cardinal number. Exceptions include numbers like 1 (first), 2 (second), and 3 (third).
Imagine you’re lining up for a movie. You would say, “I am 10th in line,” using the ordinal number to show your position.
Common Mistakes with Ordinals
Sometimes, it’s easy to get confused with how to write these numbers, especially when they involve more complex numbers like 60. Here’s where a lot of people make mistakes. You might see ’60st’ or ’60th’, and wonder which one is correct.
Let’s say there were 60 people ahead of you in a queue. You wouldn’t say, “I am the 60st person in line.” That sounds a bit off, right? Instead, you should say, “I am the 60th person in line.”
Why “60th” Is Correct
The rule is that we generally add -th to the end of most numbers to form their ordinals. The exceptions are those first few numbers like first, second, and third. So, for numbers like 60, 70, or 80, the correct ordinals would be 60th, 70th, and 80th.
Examples in Everyday Situations
Here are some everyday examples where we use ordinal numbers:
- Your birthday might be the 20th of a month.
- In a book, you might read a really interesting quote on the 45th page.
- During the Olympics, a country might finish 4th in the medal tally.
You see, ordinal numbers help us with ranking and organizing information.
Tricky Spots With Higher Numbers
What about larger numbers, though? Say, 102 or 103?
Well, although these might sound a bit complex, the same rule applies. It’s always 102nd and 103rd, following the exceptions for 2 and 3 mentioned earlier.
Why This Matters
You might wonder why such small details matter. Well, think about giving directions or instructions. What if you were telling a story and said, “He finished 1st at the 60st Annual Music Awards”? That could confuse your listener or reader because "60st" isn’t a word that follows the correct grammatical rules.
Using ordinal numbers correctly helps in clear communication. Whether you’re writing an email, giving a speech, or even setting up lessons, these little details make your English sound more natural and correct.
Practice Makes Perfect
So, do you want to get better at using ordinal numbers? It’s pretty simple! Start by reading more, and paying attention to how numbers are used in books, newspapers, or websites. Also, you could practice by placing things in order, like books on a shelf or movies in a series, and then label them with ordinal numbers.
By using numbers in different contexts, you’ll start to feel more comfortable with them. Soon, writing "60th" will come naturally whenever you need to use it.
Remember, the key is consistency. Keep practicing, and if you ever get stuck, think about the rules we talked about. This will help keep your communication clear and effective!
