Forty or Fourty: Which Spelling Is Correct?

This confuses many people because “four” and “fourteen” both keep the letter U. It feels natural to write “fourty.” But English doesn’t follow that pattern here.

This guide explains why, shows how to use the word in real situations, and gives you a simple trick to remember it for good.

What Does Forty Mean?

Forty is the number that comes after thirty-nine and before forty-one. It equals four tens, or 40 in digits.

It works as a cardinal number (forty people) and as part of larger numbers (forty-two, forty thousand). Its ordinal form is “fortieth.”

Quick Answer: Forty is the number 40, written without the letter U.

What Does Fourty Mean?

Nothing. “Fourty” is not a word in standard English. Dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Cambridge do not list it as a valid variant.

Spell checkers will flag it with a red underline. If you see it in a text, it is a spelling error.

Forty or Fourty: Which Is Correct?

Here is the short comparison:

• Forty: ✅ Correct. Example: She is forty years old.
• Fourty: ❌ Incorrect. Example: She is fourty years old.

This applies to every form of English: American, British, Canadian, Australian, and Indian. There is no regional exception.

Why Is Forty Spelled Without the U?

The word comes from Old English fēowertig, which meant “four tens.” Over centuries, pronunciation shifted. The long vowel in “four” became shorter when combined with “ty,” and the spelling eventually followed.

Compare these related words:

• Four keeps the U.
• Fourteen keeps the U.
• Forty drops the U.
• Fortieth also drops the U.

The same thing happens with other number words. “Five” becomes “fifty,” and “three” becomes “thirty.” Tens words often change the base number slightly. “Forty” simply follows that habit.

In older English texts, you can find “fourty” used now and then. Standard spelling settled on “forty” long ago, and that is the only form in use today.

Forty in Everyday English

You use this word more often than you may realize. Here are the most common situations.

Forty for Age

• He turns forty next month.
• She started a new career in her forties.
• The big 4-0 is a milestone for many people.

Note that “forties” (plural, no apostrophe) refers to the decade of life from age 40 to 49.

Forty for Money

• The ticket costs forty dollars.
• I paid forty pounds for the repair.
• The fee is forty rupees per page.

Forty for Time

• The meeting lasts forty minutes.
• It takes forty days to complete the course.
• Forty winks is a common phrase for a short nap.

Forty or Fourty in a Cheque

Banks require numbers to be written in words on a cheque, and spelling matters. A misspelled amount can cause confusion or delay.

Correct examples:

• Forty dollars only
• Forty pounds only
• Forty thousand rupees only
• Forty-five dollars and fifty cents

Wrong examples:

• Fourty dollars only
• Fourty thousand rupees only

Tip: Add the word “only” after the amount. It stops anyone from adding extra words to change the value.

Forty Thousand or Fourty Thousand: Which Is Correct?

Forty thousand is correct. The spelling of “forty” does not change when it joins with hundred, thousand, or million.

• Forty thousand people attended the match.
• The car costs forty thousand dollars.
• Forty million viewers watched the final.

For numbers in the thousands, many style guides suggest using digits in technical writing (40,000) and words in general or formal writing.

Forty or Fourty in the UK

British English also uses forty. People sometimes assume British spelling keeps extra letters, as in “colour” or “favourite.” That is true for some words, but not this one.

Here is how the UK and US compare:

Word	American English	British English
Number 40	forty	forty
Number 14	fourteen	fourteen
Ordinal 40th	fortieth	fortieth

So the answer is the same everywhere.

Forty for Quantities

Use “forty” when counting people, objects, or items.

• Forty students passed the exam.
• The recipe needs forty grams of butter.
• We ordered forty chairs for the hall.

Forty in Measurements

Spell it out in everyday writing. Use digits in technical or scientific writing.

• The room is forty feet long.
• The road is forty kilometres wide in this section. (Incorrect idea, but spelling is correct.)
• The speed limit is 40 mph.

A good rule: write “forty” in sentences and “40” next to units in data, tables, or reports.

Forty-One Through Forty-Nine

All numbers from 41 to 49 start with “forty” and use a hyphen.

Number	Spelling
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

Notice that forty-four has the “four” on the end, which keeps its U. Only the “forty” part drops it.

Forty or Fourty Five?

The correct form is forty-five. Both parts matter: “forty” has no U, and the hyphen connects the two words.

Forty or Fourty-One?

The correct form is forty-one. Never “fourty-one” or “forty one” in formal writing.

Hyphen rule: Compound numbers from 21 to 99 take a hyphen when written as words.

Forty and Fortieth

The ordinal form of forty is fortieth. It has no U either.

• Today is her fortieth birthday.
• This is the fortieth anniversary of the company.
• He finished in fortieth place.

Spelling “fortieth” as “fourtieth” is a common slip-up. Keep the pattern the same as “forty.”

Common Mistakes With Forty

Here are the errors people make most often:

• Writing fourty instead of forty
• Writing fourtieth instead of fortieth
• Forgetting the hyphen in forty-five
• Writing forty five without a hyphen in formal text
• Mixing digits and words in the same sentence, such as “40 and forty-five”

Why Do People Write Fourty?

The reason is simple. People connect “forty” with “four” because the meaning is related. Since “four” and “fourteen” have a U, the brain assumes “forty” should too.

Pronunciation adds to the problem. Some people say “forty” in a way that sounds close to “four-ty.” The spelling doesn’t reflect that sound, though.

Forty in Formal Writing

Formal writing has stricter number rules. Always follow the style guide your institution or publisher uses.

Forty in Academic Writing

Most academic styles (APA, MLA, Chicago) suggest spelling out numbers below ten or, in some cases, below one hundred. That means “forty” is often written in words in essays.

• Forty participants joined the study. (Many styles prefer “40 participants” in scientific papers.)
• Check your department’s guide before submitting.

Forty in Business Writing

In reports, emails, and contracts, clarity is the priority.

• Use “forty” in running text.
• Use “40” in tables, charts, and financial data.
• In legal documents, write both: forty (40) days.

A misspelling like “fourty” in a business email can look careless. Proofread numbers before sending.

Forty in a Sentence

Here are correct examples you can use as models:

• We waited forty minutes for the train.
• Forty people signed the petition.
• He saved forty dollars on his bill.
• She ran forty laps around the track.
• It was the fortieth time he had asked.

Incorrect Examples With Fourty

These sentences contain the common error:

• ❌ We waited fourty minutes for the train.
• ❌ Fourty people signed the petition.
• ❌ He saved fourty dollars on his bill.

Each one should use “forty.”

Forty vs Fourty Comparison

Feature	Forty	Fourty
Correct spelling	Yes	No
Listed in dictionaries	Yes	No
Used in formal writing	Yes	Never
Ordinal form	fortieth	none (fourtieth is wrong)
Works in UK and US English	Yes	No

A Simple Memory Trick

Try this: “Forty has no U because you don’t need to ‘four-get’ it.”

Better yet, remember this pair:

• Four has a U.
• Forty is for-ty. It starts like the word “for,” which also has no U.

If you can spell “for,” you can spell “forty.” Just add “ty.”

Practice Questions

Quick Practice: Choose the Correct Word

Pick the right spelling in each sentence.

1. She is turning (forty / fourty) next week.
2. The bill came to (forty-five / fourty-five) dollars.
3. This is his (fortieth / fourtieth) race.
4. We need (forty thousand / fourty thousand) bricks.
5. The class has (forty-one / fourty-one) students.

Answers: 1. forty. 2. forty-five. 3. fortieth. 4. forty thousand. 5. forty-one.

Forty or Fourty in Different Types of English

The spelling does not change across regions.

• American English: forty
• British English: forty
• Canadian English: forty
• Australian English: forty
• Indian and Pakistani English: forty

Regional differences exist in words like “cheque/check” or “colour/color,” but the number forty stays the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it forty or fourty?

The correct spelling is “forty.” “Fourty” is a misspelling.

Why is forty spelled without a U?

The word changed over time from Old English, and the U was dropped as pronunciation and spelling shifted.

Is “fourty” ever correct in British English?

No. British English also uses “forty.”

How do you write forty on a cheque?

Write “forty” in words, such as “Forty dollars only.”

Is it forty-five or fourty-five?

It is “forty-five,” with no U in the first part and a hyphen between the words.

How do you spell the ordinal of forty?

It is “fortieth,” with no U.

Is fourteen spelled with a U?

Yes. “Fourteen” keeps the U, but “forty” does not.

Should I write 40 or forty?

Use “forty” in general text and “40” in data, tables, or technical writing.

Conclusion

Forty is the only correct spelling, whether you are writing in the US, the UK, or anywhere else. The U in “four” and “fourteen” tempts many writers, but “forty” breaks that pattern.

Keep the memory trick handy: if you can spell “for,” you can spell “forty.” Remember the hyphen in numbers like forty-five, and use “fortieth” for the ordinal. With these small habits, your writing stays clean, accurate, and professional.