When you’re learning English, you might come across a lot of small details that seem confusing at first. Particularly when it comes to writing numbers in word form combined with abbreviations for ordering. Should you say "8th" or "8st"? Let’s break it down in a simple way that’s easy to grasp.
The correct form is 8th. In English, ordinal numbers (which tell the position of something in a list) are formed by adding -th, -st, -nd, or -rd to the cardinal numbers (like 1, 2, 3). However, -st is used only with the first, -nd with the second, and -rd with the third. All other numbers use -th.
For example, when you want to talk about someone finishing in the eighth position in a race, you would say, “She finished 8th.” This rule helps keep your English clear and correct.
What Are Ordinal Numbers?
First, let’s talk about ordinal numbers. What are they? You’ve mostly used them before, even if you didn’t know the official name. Ordinal numbers tell the position of something in a list. For example, first, second, and third. They are different from cardinal numbers, which tell you about quantity, like one, two, three.
How to Use Ordinal Numbers
When writing dates or rankings, we use ordinal numbers. Imagine you’re telling someone about your position in a race. You wouldn’t say, "I finished number three." You would say, "I finished third."
Learning English Patterns
English is full of patterns. By understanding these, you can easily remember how to use numbers in their ordinal form. Let’s see how this works with the number 8. If you count from one to ten, saying them as ordinals, they would be: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth.
Did you notice how eight changes? It becomes eighth.
Why Not ‘8st’?
Now, why do we say "eighth" and not "eighst" or something else? English follows specific spelling rules. For most numbers, just add ‘th’ at the end of the cardinal number, but there are always a few exceptions that you need to memorize. Eight is one of these exceptions. It does not follow the regular pattern and changes from "eight" to “eighth.”
Turning this into a simpler analogy, think of these exceptions like your quirky friends who always wear a different style of clothes to parties. They don’t follow the usual fashion rules!
How to Write ‘Eighth’ in Numbers
So, when you need to write ‘eighth’ using numbers, it should be written as "8th."
Here are some examples where "8th" is used correctly:
- Today is the 8th of September.
- She finished in the 8th place.
- My birthday is on the 8th.
This shows that whenever you’re dealing with the number eight in an ordinal form, "8th" is the way to go.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake learners might make is trying to write ordinals by just adding ‘st’, ‘nd’, ‘rd’, or ‘th’ to the last digit of the number. This rule works sometimes but not always. It’s crucial to learn the exceptions. Like our earlier example, remember the quirky friend at a party? Keep that in mind.
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to get these right is by reading a lot and practicing. Every time you write the date or talk about a position, pause and think about the correct form. Write it out. See how it fits into what you’re saying.
Quick Recap
Remember, "8th" is correct and "8st" is not. Ordinal numbers can be tricky, but they follow certain rules. Once you understand the pattern and the few exceptions, like "eighth," it becomes much easier.
Learning anything new can seem like a puzzle at first. Imagine each new rule as a piece of the puzzle. The more pieces you put together, the easier and more rewarding it gets. Keep at it, and soon you’ll handle ordinals without a second thought!
This sums up our look at how to correctly use "8th." Just like putting together a simple puzzle, understanding and applying the rules of ordinal numbers just takes a bit of practice and attention to detail.
