The Correct Spelling: Twelfth
When it comes to the spelling of the ordinal number twelve, it is often a source of confusion among English learners. Many people wonder whether it should be spelled as “twelvth” or “twelfth.” The correct spelling is “twelfth.”
Now, you may be wondering why we spell it as “twelfth” instead of “twelvth.” Well, let me explain it to you in a simple and clear manner.
In English, when we want to form the ordinal numbers from one to twelve, we simply add “th” at the end of the cardinal number. For example, “one” becomes “first,” “two” becomes “second,” “three” becomes “third,” and so on. However, when we reach the number twelve, we deviate from this pattern.
The reason for this deviation goes back to the historical development of the English language. In Old English, the word for twelve was spelled as “twelf.” This word came from the Proto-Germanic *twalif, which means “two-left,” indicating that there were two numbers left after counting ten. Over time, the pronunciation of “twelf” changed, and the spelling evolved to “twelfth” to reflect this change.
Now, let’s take a look at some examples to further illustrate the correct usage of “twelfth”:
1. “She finished in twelfth place in the race.” – Here, “twelfth” is used as an ordinal number to indicate the position in which she finished in the race.
2. “Tomorrow is the twelfth of June.” – In this sentence, “twelfth” is used as an ordinal number to indicate the date.
3. “He is celebrating his twelfth birthday today.” – In this example, “twelfth” is used as an ordinal number to indicate the number of years since his birth.
4. “I missed the twelfth episode of my favorite TV show.” – Here, “twelfth” is used as an ordinal number to indicate the episode number of the TV show.
5. “The twelfth month of the year is December.” – In this sentence, “twelfth” is used to indicate the position of the month in the year.
As you can see from these examples, “twelfth” is the correct spelling to use when referring to the ordinal number twelve. It is important to remember this spelling to ensure clear and accurate communication in written English.
In conclusion, the correct spelling of the ordinal number twelve is “twelfth.” This deviation from the pattern of adding “th” at the end of the cardinal number occurs due to the historical development of the English language. By using “twelfth” in your writing, you will demonstrate your mastery of English grammar and ensure effective communication.