When it comes to writing numbers, the English language can be a bit tricky at times. One of the common areas where people often make mistakes is when it comes to writing the number 45. Should it be written as “Fourtyfive” or “Forty Five”? The correct way to write this number is “Forty Five.” Let me explain why.
In English, when we write numbers from 21 to 99, we typically use a hyphen (-) between the tens and units digits. For example, we write twenty-two, thirty-three, fifty-six, and so on. This is the standard convention followed in most style guides and grammar books. It helps to make the number easier to read and understand.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the number 45. It is a two-digit number where the tens digit is 4 and the units digit is 5. Following the convention, we would write it as “Forty-Five.” The hyphen between “Forty” and “Five” serves as a visual separator, indicating that these two words form a single number.
Using a hyphen between the tens and units digits is important for clarity and readability. Without the hyphen, it could cause confusion and ambiguity. For example, if we were to write “Fourtyfive” without the hyphen, it might be mistaken for two separate words “Fourty” and “Five,” which completely changes the intended meaning.
Let’s consider a couple of examples to illustrate this point further:
1. The basketball team scored fortyfive points.
– This sentence could be misinterpreted as scoring “forty” and “five” points separately, whereas the intended meaning is scoring a total of 45 points.
2. Sarah has fortyfive days to complete her project.
– Without the hyphen, it might appear as if Sarah has “forty” days and “five” additional days, instead of the intended meaning of a total of 45 days.
In both these examples, not using the hyphen creates confusion and leads to a different interpretation than what was originally intended. Using the hyphen in “Forty-Five” clarifies that it is a single number, consisting of 40 and 5.
To summarize, “Forty-Five” is the correct way to write the number 45 in English. It follows the established convention of using a hyphen between the tens and units digits for numbers ranging from 21 to 99. This helps to avoid confusion and ensures clarity in written communication. So the next time you write the number 45, remember to include the hyphen and write it as “Forty-Five.”