When it comes to expressing a number in the ordinal form, we often face a common dilemma: should we use “st” or “th”? To put the matter to rest, the correct choice is “65th”. Now, you might be wondering why “65th” is the right option, so let’s learn the reasons and explore some examples to solidify our understanding.
The basic rule for forming ordinal numbers is to add “th” to the end of the cardinal number, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant. This holds true for numbers both under and over ten. For instance, we say “1st” for “one”, “22nd” for “twenty-two”, and “117th” for “one hundred and seventeen”.
Let’s specifically focus on the case of the number “65”. As I mentioned earlier, the rule remains unchanged, so we add “th” to form “65th”. Imagine you’re at a race, and the participants are being announced as they cross the finish line. “And, in 65th place, we have…” Here, using “65st” would sound awkward and incorrect.
In English, proper nouns, titles, and names are also expressed in ordinal form at times. Take the example of Queen Elizabeth II. She is referred to as “Queen Elizabeth the Second” and not “Queen Elizabeth the Two-st”. This showcases how even in exceptional cases, the standard rule of adding “th” applies.
Similarly, if we consider dates, we always use the ordinal form to describe the day. For instance, we write “October 31st” for Halloween and not “October 31rd”. It’s crucial to remember that this rule holds true regardless of the cardinal number preceding the “st” or “th”. We would write “1st”, “21st”, “32nd”, and “99th” for the corresponding dates.
Now, let’s take a quick look at the cases where “st” is appropriate. Ordinal numbers are mainly used to express rank or position, but occasionally they can also be used to denote fractions. In this context, “st” is used when a fraction is expressed with the numerator being “1”. For instance, we write “1/21st” as “one twenty-first”, “1/3rd” as “one third”, and “1/2nd” as “one half”. Here, using “1th” would not make sense.
To summarize, the standard and correct form for expressing the ordinal number of “65” is “65th”. This rule applies universally to all cardinal numbers when forming ordinals. From races to dates, and from royal titles to fractions, the addition of “th” is consistent and grammatically accurate. So, let’s bid farewell to the confusion and embrace the correct and confident use of “65th” when indicating order or rank.