Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 537.

GRAMMAR GUIDE 3

For economists, the accurate and appropriate use of numbers is very important. Errors in number use can cause confusion. Because the question of whether to express numbers in figures or in words is difficult for many people. Just as there are certain times when it is more appropriate to use words to state numbers, there are other times when it is more appropriate to use figures.

1 one 1st first

2 two 2nd second

3 three 3rd third

4 four 4th fourth

5 five 5th fifth

6 six 6th sixth

7 seven 7th seventh

8 eight 8th eighth

9 nine 9th ninth

10 ten 10th tenth

11 eleven 11th eleventh

12 twelve 12th twelfth

13 thirteen 13th thirteenth

20 twenty 20th twentieth

31 thirty-one 31st thirty-first

42 forty-two 42nd forty-second

153 a/one hundred and fifty-three 153rd one hundred and fifty-third

986 nine hundred and eighty-six 986th nine hundred and eighty- sixth

Note: In British English the “and” is always used: one hundred and fifty-

three, two hundred and forty-one. But in American English it is

often left out: one hundred fifty-three, two hundred forty-one.

1,001 a/ one thousand (and) one

1,122 one thousand, one hundred (and) twenty-two

2,000 two thousand

1,000,000 one million

1,000,000,000 a/ one thousand million (a/ one billion - esp. AmE, but

now also BrE)

1,000,000,000,000 a/ one trillion (esp. AmE) or sometimes a/ one billion

(esp. BrE)

Remember: When writing a number of four digits or more separate the

numbers by placing a comma every three digits counting

from the right.