Join In
Twitter
YouTube
Weekly Newsletter
Libraries
A-Z Grammatical Terms
A-Z Confused Words
FAQs by Writers
A-Z Awkward Plurals
Punctuation Lessons
Common Mistakes
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
(ordered by seriousness) ESL Vocabulary Lists Parts of Speech Lists A-Z Idioms and Proverbs Tests and Games Top Tip Install a grammar checker
for your browser
Forth or Fourth?
What Is the Difference between "Forth" and "Fourth"?
"Forth" and "fourth" are easy to confuse because they sound identical (i.e., they are perfect homonyms). The difference between "forth" and "fourth" is not related to US or UK spellings.- Forth. "Forth" means "forward" or "onward." For example:
- Come forth.
- From here on forth, I shall demand better service.
- You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. (Author Khalil Gibran)
- Fourth. "Fourth" relates to the number four (e.g., fourth place). For example:
- Mine is the fourth house on the left.
- Memory is the fourth dimension to any landscape.
(Author Janet Fitch)

More about "Forth" and "Fourth"
"Fourth" and "forth" are different words. They are not different spellings under US and UK writing conventions.Forth
The word forth" (without "u") is an adverb meaning "forward" or "onward" (e.g., from this day forth, bring forth, go forth).Example sentences with "forth":
- Put a cherry on top the first cake, then the second, and so forth.
- I need to be present at the meeting to put my ideas forth.
Fourth
The word "fourth" (with "u") relates to the number four. It can be a noun (e.g., one fourth, remove the fourth) or an adjective (e.g., the fourth car, the fourth person).Forty Not Fourty
Somewhat oddly, the word "forty" (40), which obviously relates to the number four, is not spelled with a "u."- I can't believe I'm fourty!
Ready for the Test?
Help Us Improve Grammar Monster
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
Find Us Quicker!
- When using a search engine (e.g., Google, Bing), you will find Grammar Monster quicker if you add #gm to your search term.