Forty is the correct spelling, while fourty is a misspelling in modern English. Although the number 4 is spelled “four,” the number 40 drops the letter “u.” Therefore, you should write “forty dollars,” “forty people,” and “forty-five minutes,” not “fourty dollars,” “fourty people,” or “fourty-five minutes.” This spelling rule applies to American, British, and other standard varieties of English.
Forty or Fourty?
| Spelling | Correct? | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Forty | Yes | Standard spelling of the number 40 |
| Fourty | No | Common misspelling of forty |
| Forty-five | Yes | Correct spelling of 45 |
| Fortieth | Yes | Correct ordinal form of forty |
| Fourteenth | Yes | Correct ordinal form of fourteen |
The key difference is simple: forty has no “u.” Even though “four” and “fourteen” contain that letter, “forty” does not.
Is Forty or Fourty Correct?
Forty is correct. Fourty is incorrect in modern standard English. Use forty whenever you write the number 40, whether you are discussing age, money, time, distance, or quantity.
For example:
- Correct: She is forty years old.
- Incorrect: She is fourty years old.
- Correct: We invited forty guests.
- Incorrect: We invited fourty guests.
- Correct: The trip takes forty minutes.
- Incorrect: The trip takes fourty minutes.
The mistake is understandable because the spelling of forty does not follow the pattern many people expect. However, standard dictionaries recognize forty as the correct modern spelling.
Why Is Forty Spelled Without a U?
The confusion comes from the relationship between four and forty.
The number four contains a “u.” The word fourteen keeps it, too. Therefore, many writers assume that adding “-ty” should produce “fourty.”
However, English spelling does not always follow a consistent pattern. The accepted spelling of 40 is forty, without the “u.”
Compare these related number words:
| Number | Correct Spelling |
|---|---|
| 4 | Four |
| 14 | Fourteen |
| 24 | Twenty-four |
| 34 | Thirty-four |
| 40 | Forty |
| 44 | Forty-four |
| 45 | Forty-five |
| 400 | Four hundred |
Notice that forty drops the “u,” even though the spelling of four remains unchanged in other numbers.
The best approach is to learn forty as an exception rather than trying to apply a spelling pattern that does not work here.
Is Fourty Ever Correct?
In modern standard English, fourty is not the accepted spelling of the number 40. You should avoid it in school assignments, professional emails, articles, business documents, and everyday writing.
However, there is a historical reason the spelling may appear in older texts. English spelling changed over time, and fourty was one of several historical variants. The modern spelling forty eventually became standard.
Therefore, if you encounter fourty in an old document, it may reflect an earlier spelling convention rather than a modern spelling choice.
For contemporary writing, the rule remains straightforward: write forty, not fourty.
Forty or Fourty-Five: Which Is Correct?
The correct spelling is forty-five, with no “u” and a hyphen between the two words.
Examples include:
- Forty-five students attended the class.
- The store received forty-five new books.
- She completed the task in forty-five minutes.
- The temperature reached forty-five degrees.
Because forty is the correct base word, the same spelling carries over to compound numbers.
Use the same pattern for other numbers from 41 through 99 that combine tens and units:
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Forty-three
- Forty-four
- Forty-five
- Forty-six
- Forty-seven
- Forty-eight
- Forty-nine
In standard written English, hyphens are generally used in compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine when the number is written in words.
Forty vs. Fortieth: What Is the Difference?
Although forty and fortieth look similar, they serve different purposes.
Forty is a cardinal number. It tells you how many people or things exist.
Fortieth is an ordinal number. It describes a position or identifies something in a sequence.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Forty | The number 40 | She bought forty flowers. |
| Fortieth | Position number 40 | Today is her fortieth birthday. |
| Four | The number 4 | He has four books. |
| Fourth | Position number 4 | She finished in fourth place. |
Notice that fortieth also has no “u.” This is a helpful reminder that the correct spelling follows forty, not four.
For example, write “their fortieth anniversary,” not “their fourtieth anniversary.”
How to Use Forty in a Sentence
You can use forty in many everyday situations. It may describe a quantity, an age, a period of time, or a measurement.
1. Forty for Age
- My father turned forty last year.
- She will be forty next month.
- He celebrated his fortieth birthday with friends.
2. Forty for Money
- The jacket costs forty dollars.
- I paid forty dollars for the tickets.
- They donated forty dollars to the school.
3. Forty for Time
- The meeting lasted forty minutes.
- We waited for forty minutes.
- The train arrives in forty minutes.
4. Forty for Quantity
- Forty students entered the competition.
- The library has forty new computers.
- She read forty pages before bed.
In each example, the correct spelling is forty. Regardless of the context, you should never add a “u” after the “o.”
How to Remember the Correct Spelling of Forty
If you regularly confuse forty and fourty, a simple memory trick can help.
Remember: “Four has a U, but forty doesn’t.”
You can also memorize this short comparison:
- Four = correct with “u”
- Fourteen = correct with “u”
- Forty = correct without “u”
- Fortieth = correct without “u”
Another useful method is to associate forty with its compound forms. Once you remember “forty-five” and “forty-nine,” you can apply the same spelling to other numbers in the series.
Most importantly, practice writing the word in complete sentences. Repeated exposure helps you recognize the correct form more quickly.
Common Mistakes With Forty and Fourty
Even experienced writers sometimes type fourty because it looks logical. However, knowing the common errors makes proofreading easier.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Fourty years old | Forty years old |
| Fourty dollars | Forty dollars |
| Fourty minutes | Forty minutes |
| Fourty-five people | Forty-five people |
| Fourtieth birthday | Fortieth birthday |
| Fourty-one students | Forty-one students |
Mistake 1: Following the Spelling of Four
The number four contains a “u,” but forty does not. Therefore, do not assume that related numbers always preserve the same spelling.
Mistake 2: Adding a U to Forty-Five
Compound numbers keep the spelling of forty. As a result, write forty-five, forty-six, and forty-seven.
Mistake 3: Writing Fourtieth
The ordinal form is fortieth, not fourtieth. It follows the spelling of forty.
Mistake 4: Assuming British English Uses Fourty
The correct modern spelling is forty in standard American and British English. The spelling difference between “color” and “colour,” for example, does not make fourty correct in British English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it forty or fourty?
Forty is the correct spelling of the number 40. Fourty is a common misspelling and should be avoided in modern standard English. The correct spelling applies across standard varieties of English.
Why is forty spelled without a U?
English spelling does not always follow predictable patterns. Although four and fourteen contain a “u,” the standard spelling of forty drops that letter. The spelling developed historically and became the accepted modern form.
Is fourty a real word?
Fourty appears in historical English spelling, but it is not the accepted modern spelling of 40. For contemporary writing, use forty in every context, including ages, money, measurements, and compound numbers.
Is it forty-five or fourty-five?
The correct spelling is forty-five. The number forty never takes a “u,” even when combined with another number. Use a hyphen in written compound numbers such as forty-one, forty-five, and forty-nine.
How do you spell 40 in words?
Write 40 as forty. The spelling contains five letters: F-O-R-T-Y. Do not add a “u” after the “o,” even though the number four contains that letter.
Is it fortieth or fourtieth?
Fortieth is correct. It is the ordinal form of forty and refers to position number 40 or an occasion such as a fortieth birthday or anniversary. Fourtieth is a misspelling.
Is forty correct in British English?
Yes. Forty is the standard spelling in British English as well as American English. Although British spelling uses forms such as “colour” and “favour,” it does not use fourty for the number 40.
How do you write forty dollars?
Write forty dollars. The word forty has no “u,” regardless of the currency or amount being described. For example, write “The ticket costs forty dollars,” not “The ticket costs fourty dollars.”
Conclusion
Forty is the correct spelling, while fourty is incorrect in modern English. Although the number four contains a “u,” the number 40 drops that letter. Therefore, always write forty years, forty dollars, forty minutes, and forty-five people. The same rule applies to related forms, including fortieth. In addition, the correct spelling is used in both American and British English. If you struggle to remember the difference, use this simple tip: “Four has a U, but forty doesn’t.” With this rule in mind, you can avoid this common spelling mistake confidently.
Andrew Morris is a writer at Meaninga.com who specializes in word meanings, slang, idioms and modern language trends. He creates clear, accurate and easy to understand content for everyday readers.
