33rd or 33th – Which is Correct?
When it comes to ordinal numbers, there often seems to be confusion about the correct way to write them. While it might seem like a simple matter of adding “th” to any number, it is important to follow the rules of English grammar. So, let’s tackle the question at hand – should it be “33rd” or “33th”?
The correct form is indeed “33rd.” When we want to express a number as an ordinal, we generally add “th” to the end of it. This applies to most numbers that don’t end in 1, 2, or 3. Simply put, the “th” ending adds the notion of position or order, indicating that something is the “thirty-third” in a sequence.
To illustrate this, let’s examine some examples:
1. First, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth…
2. Twelfth, twentieth, thirtieth, fortieth, hundredth…
Here, you can see that the numbers ending in 1, 2, or 3 have unique ordinals. However, the rest follow the pattern of adding “th.” So, when we write 33 as an ordinal, it becomes “33rd.”
It’s worth noting that this applies to all numbers that end with 3 except for numbers ending in 11, 12, and 13. These numbers have their own special endings, which are “th” for 11th, “th” for 12th, and “th” for 13th. The reason behind this exception is historical and rooted in linguistic development.
Now, why is it “33rd” and not “33th”? Let’s break it down further. Every ordinal number consists of the cardinal number (in this case, 33) and the appropriate suffix. In English grammar, “rd” is the suffix for the numbers 3, 23, 33, 43, and so on. It’s as if the suffix “rd” is a dedicated label for these specific numbers.
To better understand this concept, let’s compare it to a metaphor. Imagine you have a cupboard with different sections labeled for specific flavors – a section for sweet, sour, and salty. In this analogy, the ordinal numbers ending with 1, 2, and 3 have their own sections in the cupboard. Similarly, the ordinal numbers ending with other digits have their designated section, represented by the “th” suffix.
Just like we organize flavors in separate sections, English has organized ordinals with distinctive suffixes. So, when it comes to “33rd,” we are simply following the established rules of the language.
To summarize, using “33rd” is the correct way to express the ordinal form of the number 33. It adheres to the grammar rules of English and follows the pattern of adding “th” to numbers that end in digits other than 1, 2, or 3. Remember, language evolves and adopts certain conventions to maintain clarity and coherence. So, let’s embrace these rules and use them to communicate effectively in writing and speech.