Forty vs. Fourty: Meaning, Spelling, and Examples(2026 Guide)

Forty vs. fourty: which spelling is correct? The answer is forty, with no “u.” The word “fourty” is a very common mistake, even though it looks right because “four” has a u. Dictionaries and major style guides list only “forty” as the standard spelling for the number 40.

This guide explains the meaning of forty, why the u disappeared, and how to write it in sentences, cheques, and formal documents. You will also find examples, a comparison table, a memory trick, practice questions, and quick rules. By the end, you will never second-guess this spelling again.

What Does Forty Mean?

Forty is the number 40. It comes after thirty-nine and before forty-one. It is written as a cardinal number (forty) and as an ordinal number (fortieth).

Forty also shows up in common phrases:

• Forty winks means a short nap.
• Life begins at forty is a popular saying.
• Forty days and forty nights appears in well-known stories and idioms.

What Does Fourty Mean?

“Fourty” has no meaning in modern English. It is a misspelling of forty. Some writers add the u because “four” has one, but the standard word does not.

Historically, similar spellings appeared in older English, but they faded out and are not accepted today.

Forty or Fourty: Which Is Correct?

Forty is correct. Fourty is wrong.

Spelling	Correct?	Note
Forty	Yes	Standard in American and British English
Fourty	No	Common misspelling

There is no regional variation, like color and colour. Both American and British English use “forty.”

Why Is Forty Spelled Without the U?

English spelling changed a lot over the centuries. The old English form of the word looked quite different, and over time the spelling settled into “forty.” Sources disagree on exactly when and why the u dropped, so there is no single clear answer.

What we know is simple:

• “Four” and “fourteen” keep the u.
• “Forty” does not.
• It is an irregular spelling you must memorize, like “five” and “fifty.”

Forty in Everyday English

You use forty daily without noticing: forty minutes, forty dollars, forty people, forty miles. It works as a number, an adjective, and sometimes a noun (She is in her forties).

Forty for Age

• He turned forty last week.
• She is a forty-year-old teacher. (Use hyphens before a noun.)
• My mother is in her forties.
• The teacher is forty years old. (No hyphens after the noun.)

Forty for Money

• The ticket costs forty dollars.
• Forty percent of the money was saved.
• The cheque is for forty thousand rupees.

In numerals, write $40 or 40%. In words, always write forty.

Forty for Time

• The meeting lasted forty minutes.
• We waited forty seconds.
• The trip takes forty hours.
• I need forty winks before dinner.

Forty for Quantities

• There are forty students in the class.
• She bought forty roses.
• The box holds forty pencils.
• Forty cars were in the lot.

Forty in Measurements

• The road is forty kilometers long.
• He ran forty meters.
• The tank holds forty liters.
• They rented a forty-foot container. (Hyphen before a noun.)

Forty-One Through Forty-Nine

All numbers from 21 to 99 that have two parts take a hyphen. The “forty” part never has a u.

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

Forty or Fourty Five?

Forty-five is correct. “Fourty-five” and “forty five” (without a hyphen) are both wrong in formal writing.

Example: I waited forty-five minutes.

Forty or Fourty-One?

Forty-one is correct, with a hyphen and no u.

Example: The team won forty-one games.

Forty and Fortieth

Fortieth is the ordinal form, used for position, order, or anniversaries. It also has no u.

• Today is her fortieth birthday.
• They celebrated their fortieth anniversary.
• He finished fortieth in the race.

Common Mistakes With Forty

1. Writing “fourty.” Always drop the u.
2. Forgetting the hyphen in forty-one to forty-nine.
3. Confusing it with fourteen. Fourteen (14) has a u, but forty (40) does not.
4. Mixing up forth and fourth. These are different words.
5. Writing “forteen.” The correct word is fourteen.
6. Adding hyphens after the noun. Write “He is forty years old,” not “forty-years-old.”

Why Do People Write Fourty?

The mistake is understandable:

• “Four” has a u, so the brain expects it in “forty.”
• “Fourteen” and “four hundred” also keep the u.
• The word sounds like “four-tee.”
• Spell-check does not always catch it.

Even careful writers slip here. Knowing the pattern helps.

Forty in Formal Writing

In formal documents, spell out the number when it begins a sentence or is part of a contract, check, or legal text.

• Forty employees attended the training.
• The agreement is valid for forty days.

Use numerals when your style guide asks for them, but never write “fourty.”

Forty in Academic Writing

Academic styles differ:

• APA usually uses numerals for 10 and above (40 participants) and words at the start of a sentence (Forty participants joined the study).
• Chicago often spells out numbers under one hundred (forty).
• MLA commonly spells out numbers that can be written in one or two words (forty).

Check your assignment guide, and never use “fourty.”

Forty in Business Writing

In business writing, use numerals for data, prices, and reports ($40, 40%). Use words in formal letters, contracts, and when a sentence starts with the number.

• Forty clients signed up in March.
• Revenue grew 40% last quarter.

Forty in a Sentence

• The class has forty students.
• She waited forty minutes for the bus.
• He turned forty in June.
• Forty percent of voters stayed home.
• We walked forty kilometers.
• The shop opens at forty minutes past nine.

Incorrect Examples With Fourty

Incorrect	Correct
❌ Fourty people came.	✅ Forty people came.
❌ She is fourty years old.	✅ She is forty years old.
❌ Fourty-five minutes	✅ Forty-five minutes
❌ Fourty dollars	✅ Forty dollars
❌ The fourtieth day	✅ The fortieth day

Forty vs Fourty Comparison

Feature	Forty	Fourty
Correct?	Yes	No
Number	40	None (misspelling)
Ordinal	Fortieth	Fourtieth (wrong)
American English	✅	❌
British English	✅	❌
Use in cheques	✅	❌

Forty or fourty in cheque

On a cheque, the amount in words must be exact. Banks may reject a cheque with a spelling error.

• ✅ Forty dollars only
• ✅ Forty thousand rupees only
• ❌ Fourty dollars only

Write clearly and add “only” at the end to prevent changes.

Forteen or fourteen forty or fourty

Two number words confuse writers:

Number	Correct Word	Common Mistake
14	fourteen (with u)	forteen
40	forty (no u)	fourty

Tip: “Fourteen” keeps the u from “four.” “Forty” does not.

40 in words

40 in words is “forty.”

Other numbers for reference:

• 4 = four
• 14 = fourteen
• 40 = forty
• 44 = forty-four
• 400 = four hundred
• 4,000 = four thousand
• 40,000 = forty thousand

Fourty five or forty-five

Forty-five is correct, written with a hyphen. “Fourty five” is wrong in two ways: the extra u and the missing hyphen.

Forty or fourty in american english

American English uses forty. Style guides like Chicago, AP, and APA all use this spelling. “Fourty” is treated as an error.

Forty or fourty british english

British English also uses forty. There is no UK-only spelling like “fourty.” The same rule applies in Canada, Australia, India, and other English-speaking countries.

A Simple Memory Trick

Try one of these:

• “For” + “ty”: Think of “for” (as in “for you”) and add “ty.” No u appears in “for.”
• Odd one out: Only four and fourteen keep the u. Forty is the exception.
• “Fortieth, forty, forties”: None have a u, so none of them need one.
• Say it: “Forty has no u, but you have to remember it.”

Practice Questions

Fill in the blank with the correct spelling.

1. She turned ______ last week.
2. We waited ______-five minutes.
3. The ticket costs ______ dollars.
4. Today is his ______ birthday.
5. There are ______ students in the room.

Answers: 1) forty, 2) forty, 3) forty, 4) fortieth, 5) forty

Quick Practice: Choose the Correct Word

Pick the right spelling.

1. fourty / forty
2. forty-one / fourty-one
3. fortieth / fourtieth
4. fourteen / forteen
5. forty-nine / fourty-nine

Answers: forty, forty-one, fortieth, fourteen, forty-nine

Forty or Fourty in Different Types of English

English Type	Forty	Fourty
American	✅	❌
British	✅	❌
Canadian	✅	❌
Australian	✅	❌
Indian	✅	❌

The spelling does not change between countries.

What About 40?

“40” is the numeral, and “forty” is the word. Both mean the same. Use numerals for data, math, and measurements. Use words for formal sentences, cheques, and sentence openers.

What About 40th?

“40th” is the shortened ordinal. “Fortieth” is the written form.

• Her 40th birthday (numeral)
• Her fortieth birthday (word)

Both are correct, but the word never has a u.

Grammar Rules

• No u: forty, fortieth, forties
• With u: four, fourteen, fourth
• Hyphenate compound numbers 21 to 99: forty-one, forty-two
• Hyphenate before a noun: a forty-year-old man, a forty-minute drive
• No hyphens after the noun: He is forty years old.
• Plural form: the forties (decade or age range)
• Sentence start: Spell out the number: Forty people came.
• Avoid “and” in simple numbers: forty-five, not forty and five

Final Tips

• Remember that forty has no u.
• Hyphenate forty-one through forty-nine.
• Use “fortieth” for the ordinal.
• Always spell it out on cheques and legal documents.
• Proofread, because spell-check may miss the error in handwritten work.
• When unsure, replace the word with 40. If the numeral works, the word is “forty.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it forty or fourty?

It is forty. “Fourty” is a misspelling.

Why is forty spelled without a u?

English spelling changed over time and settled on “forty.” It is an irregular spelling that you simply memorize.

Is fourty ever correct?

No. It is not accepted in standard modern English.

How do you spell 45 in words?

Forty-five, with a hyphen and no u.

Is it fortieth or fourtieth?

It is fortieth.

Is forty spelled differently in British English?

No. British and American English both use “forty.”

How do you write 40 on a cheque?

Write “forty” in words, and add “only,” for example “Forty dollars only.”

Is it forteen or fourteen?

It is fourteen, with a u.

Conclusion

Forty vs. fourty is an easy rule once you see it: forty is correct, and fourty is not. The u appears in four, fourteen, and fourth, but it never appears in forty, fortieth, or forties.

Remember the hyphen in numbers like forty-five, spell out the word on cheques and in formal writing, and check your work before sending. With these simple habits, you will spell this tricky number correctly every time.