Have you ever wondered how to correctly say and write the numbers when it refers to position or order? It’s something so common in everyday usage — from celebrating birthdays to marking anniversaries or enumerating items. But sometimes, it’s easy to mix things up, especially with the thorny bits of the English language. Let’s get into one tiny but tricky detail: how do we say the number that comes after 90th?
The correct form is 91st. When expressing ordinal numbers, the ending of the number depends on the last digit. For numbers ending in 1, the correct suffix is ‘st’, hence 91st. This rule applies unless the number ends in 11, like 11th.
For example, when talking about a birthday, you would say, “Today is my 91st birthday.” This shows the specific order of the birthday in sequence. The suffix helps clarify that it is not just any birthday, but the 91st one.
Understanding Ordinal Numbers
First, what exactly are ordinal numbers? These are numbers that tell the position of something in a list. Think about when you line up for a movie. Being the first in line means you’re at the front, right? That kind of number is an ordinal number. It tells us about an item’s position.
Basics of Ordinal Numbers
In English, we usually form ordinal numbers by adding -th to the cardinal number. Cardinal numbers are your regular numbers like one, two, three, and so on. So, 90 becomes 90th, just by adding -th at the end. Simple, isn’t it?
However, there are exceptions that might throw you off. With the numbers 1, 2, and 3, things change a bit. We say first (1st), second (2nd), and third (3rd). These special ones follow their unique rule.
Delving into the 91st vs. 91th Confusion
So, where does this confusion between 91st and 91th come from? Let’s break it down with a little spotlight on the numbers ending in 1, 2, and 3. Like our special exceptions before, any number ending in 1 generally takes on -st instead of -th. For example:
- 21 turns into 21st
- 31 changes to 31st
- And the same goes for 41 (41st), 51 (51st), and so on
Focusing now on 91, following the same rule, it becomes 91st — which means if you’re celebrating a 91st birthday, it’s the birthday that comes after the 90th.
Now, every rule has its peculiarities. What about 11th? Yes, we say 11th (eleventh) even though it ends in 1. This is because all the numbers from 11 to 13 are treated as exceptions and follow the regular -th.
Spotting and Fixing Errors
It’s easy to slip up, given these little twists in the rules. If you hear someone calling their 91st meeting as the “ninety-one-th,” it’s a mistake—albeit a common one, especially if English isn’t their first language. In such cases, gently correct them that it should be “ninety-first.”
Sometimes, learning by seeing examples in action helps cement these rules. Here are some correct usages:
- He’s running in his 91st race.
- She celebrated her 91st birthday last week.
- This is the 91st time I’ve told you not to do that!
Practical Tips for Remembering
If you find these rules a tad tricky to remember, try this little trick. Whenever you’re unsure, replace the number with a simpler one from the 1-3 range which you’re confident about. Then, see if it follows the pattern for those special cases, or if it just needs the usual -th slapped on the back.
Another helpful tip is to listen to native speakers or even news broadcasts. How they say numbers can provide practical insights into what sounds ‘natural’ or correct in everyday conversation.
Wrapping Up
So, let’s recap what we’ve learned. For most numbers, adding -th will be your go-to for transforming a cardinal to an ordinal number. And when it comes to those tricky ones ending in 1, 2, or 3 (except 11 to 13), remember the special endings: -st, -nd, and -rd. Now, you’re more equipped to use these correctly in your writing and speech!
Clear as mud? Hopefully, it’s clearer than mud! Keeping track of these exceptions and applying them frequently in your conversations will make these rules stick. So, next time you write or say an ordinal number, you’ll know just what suffix it needs!
