Fourty or Forty: Which Is Correct? The Spelling Explained

The correct spelling is forty, not fourty. If you are writing the number 40, always use forty without the letter u. The confusion is understandable because the number four contains a “u,” and fourteen keeps it too. However, English spelling does not always follow that pattern.

In this guide, you will learn why forty is correct, whether fourty is ever acceptable, how to spell related numbers such as forty-first and fortieth, and how to remember the correct form.

Quick Answer

Forty is the standard spelling of the number 40. Fourty is a common misspelling and should not be used in standard English. Although four and fourteen contain the letter “u,” forty does not. The correct forms are forty, forty-one, forty-two, and so on. The ordinal form is fortieth, also without a “u.”

Forty vs. Fourty: Comparison Table

What Does “Forty” Mean?

Forty is the word used for the number 40. It comes after thirty-nine and before forty-one. Dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Cambridge list forty as the standard spelling.

You can use forty when talking about:

• Age: She is forty years old.
• Quantity: We ordered forty sandwiches.
• Time: The meeting lasted forty minutes.
• Distance: The town is forty miles away.
• Money: He saved forty dollars.
• Percentage: Forty percent of the class passed.

The word can also refer to a range from 40 to 49 when used in the plural forties. For example, “She is in her forties” means that she is between 40 and 49 years old.

Why Is “Fourty” Wrong?

The spelling fourty seems logical because of the word four. You might expect:

four → fourty

But standard English uses:

four → forty

The letter u is simply not part of the standard spelling of 40.

This is one of those English spelling patterns that has to be learned rather than predicted. Merriam-Webster notes that fourty appeared among historical spellings of the word, but it eventually lost favor, while forty became the established modern spelling.

So, even though the following words contain a u:

• four
• fourteen
• fourth

the correct spelling is still:

• forty
• fortieth

There is no modern standard spelling fourty for the number 40.

Forty, Fourteen, and Fortieth

This is where many learners become confused.

Fourteen = 14

Fourteen keeps the u from four.

She bought fourteen books.

Forty = 40

Forty drops the u.

She bought forty books.

Fortieth = 40th

The ordinal form is fortieth, not fourtieth or fourtieth.

Today is his fortieth birthday.

The connection is easy to remember:

40 = forty
40th = fortieth

Both forms are spelled without u. Merriam-Webster and Oxford both list fortieth as the ordinal form of forty.

How to Spell 41–49

Once you know forty, the numbers from 41 to 49 are straightforward. Keep forty without the u, then add the second number:

• forty-one = 41
• forty-two = 42
• forty-three = 43
• forty-four = 44
• forty-five = 45
• forty-six = 46
• forty-seven = 47
• forty-eight = 48
• forty-nine = 49

For example:

The company hired forty-five new employees.

The same spelling applies in compound numbers. Fourty-five is incorrect; forty-five is correct. Standard dictionary entries confirm forms such as forty-one and forty-four.

Is “Fourty” Ever Correct?

If you mean the modern English number 40, no. Fourty is not the standard spelling you should use in everyday, academic, professional, or formal writing.

However, there is an interesting historical reason you may sometimes encounter it. Fourty was one of several spellings used in earlier stages of English. Merriam-Webster’s usage article notes that historical forms included fourty, but the spelling eventually fell out of standard use.

Therefore, seeing fourty in an old text does not make it the correct modern spelling. For contemporary English, write forty.

Common Mistakes

1. Writing “fourty” because of “four”

❌ Fourty students attended.
✅ Forty students attended.

2. Adding the “u” to compound numbers

❌ fourty-eight
✅ forty-eight

3. Spelling the ordinal incorrectly

❌ fourtieth
❌ fourtieth
✅ fortieth

4. Confusing 14 and 40

Remember:

14 = fourteen
40 = forty

The first keeps the u, while the second does not.

5. Assuming British English uses “fourty”

It does not. Forty is the standard spelling in both American and British English. The spelling does not change to fourty based on the variety of English you use. Cambridge lists forty in both its UK and US dictionary entries.

Six Examples of “Forty” in a Sentence

1. My father turned forty last year.
2. The teacher gave us forty minutes to complete the test.
3. There were forty people at the event.
4. She walked forty miles during the charity challenge.
5. The store offers a forty percent discount this week.
6. He celebrated his fortieth birthday with his family.

Notice that the word remains forty whenever it represents 40, while fortieth is used for the ordinal form.

Easy Memory Trick

Here is the easiest way to remember the spelling:

FOUR → FORTY

Think of forty as the exception you simply memorize.

You can also use this quick rule:

40 = FORTY — no U.

If you are tempted to write fourty, look at the word forty and remember that the u disappears.

Mini Quiz

1. Which spelling is correct?
A. Fourty
B. Forty
C. Fortie
D. Fourtie

2. Which sentence is correct?
A. She is fourty years old.
B. She is forty years old.
C. She is fourtie years old.
D. She is fortie years old.

3. How do you spell 40th?
A. Fourtieth
B. Fourtieth
C. Fortieth
D. Fortyth

4. Which spelling is correct for 48?
A. Fourty-eight
B. Forty-eight
C. Fourtie-eight
D. Fortie-eight

5. Which number keeps the “u”?
A. Forty
B. Fortieth
C. Fourteen
D. Forty-five

Answers: 1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-B, 5-C

FAQs

Is “fourty” a correct spelling?

No. Fourty is not the standard modern spelling of the number 40. The correct form is forty, without the letter “u.” Although fourty appeared as a historical spelling, it is considered incorrect in contemporary standard English.

Why is forty spelled without the “u”?

There is no simple modern spelling rule that explains why four has a “u” while forty does not. English has used several historical spellings of the word, and forty eventually became the established standard. Today, the correct spelling simply needs to be memorized.

Is it forty or fourty in American English?

The correct American English spelling is forty. Fourty is not the standard American spelling. The same spelling is also used in British English, so you do not need to change the word based on your audience.

How do you spell 40th?

The correct spelling is fortieth. It does not contain the “u” found in four. For example, you would write, “She celebrated her fortieth birthday.” The same spelling principle applies: forty and fortieth are both written without “u.”

How do you spell numbers from 41 to 49?

Use forty followed by the second number: forty-one, forty-two, forty-three, forty-four, forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven, forty-eight, and forty-nine. Never add the “u” from four. For example, forty-eight is correct, while fourty-eight is incorrect.

Key Takeaways

• Forty is the correct spelling of 40.
• Fourty is a common misspelling in modern English.
• Forty does not contain the u found in four.
• Fourteen keeps the u, but forty does not.
• The correct ordinal form is fortieth.
• Use forty-one through forty-nine, not fourty-one through fourty-nine.
• Forty is standard in both American and British English.
• Historical English did use forms such as fourty, but they are not the modern standard.

Conclusion

The correct spelling is forty, not fourty. Although the spelling may seem unusual because four and fourteen contain a “u,” modern standard English uses forty without it. The same pattern appears in fortieth and numbers such as forty-five and forty-eight. Historical forms such as fourty did exist, but they are no longer standard. When writing the number 40 today, the rule is simple: write forty—never fourty.

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William Strunk

William Strunk is a respected authority on English grammar, usage, and writing style, known for his influential work The Elements of Style. At EduNexxa, his focus is on clear, concise, and effective English.