Is It Fourty or Forty: The Complete Guide to Spelling This Tricky Number

When it comes to numbers, even native English speakers and learners, Is It Fourty or Forty often causes confusion, tricky mistakes, and wonder.

Diving into the history and usage, forty is the correct spelling, not fourty, despite the logical link to four and the u. Examples, practical tips, and autocorrect reminders ensure you spell it correctly, so students, learners, and users don’t struggle with an alternative.

From personal trips in writing, guides, and dictionaries, I’ve seen writers appreciate this plausible but tricky quirk. Double-check numbers, spellings, and methods to turn confusion into knowledge, and upholding the correct form of forty becomes common practice for everyone.

The Correct Spelling: Forty

The correct spelling is “Forty.” There’s no “u” in this number, even though it seems logical to match it with the number four.

Historical Background

The word “forty” comes from Old English “feowertig,” which literally meant “four tens.” Over time, English simplified the spelling, dropping the “u” and making it consistent with other number spellings like thirty and fifty.

Table: Common Number Spellings

Number	Correct Spelling	Common Mistakes
30	Thirty	Therty
40	Forty	Fourty
50	Fifty	Fivety
60	Sixty	Sixity
70	Seventy	Seveny
80	Eighty	Eighty
90	Ninety	Ninety

As you can see, English numbers often drop the vowel from the base number when forming the tens. This explains why “forty” doesn’t follow the same spelling pattern as “four.”

Why “Fourty” Is Wrong

Many writers mistakenly add a “u,” creating “Fourty.” This error stems from logical reasoning—matching the spelling to the number four—but English doesn’t always follow logic when it comes to words.

Common Misconceptions

• People assume all numbers that contain four should keep the “u.”
• Spell-check tools sometimes fail to catch “fourty” because it’s a recognized, though incorrect, variation in informal writing.
• ESL learners often make this mistake because pronunciation of “forty” and “fourty” sounds almost identical.

Example of Incorrect Usage:

• “I have fourty dollars in my wallet.”

Correct Usage:

• “I have forty dollars in my wallet.”

Even professional publications strictly follow “forty,” making it critical to use the correct form in essays, business writing, and official documents.

Read More:Skillset or Skill Set: Which is Correct and How to Use Each

Tips to Remember the Correct Spelling

Spelling “forty” correctly can feel tricky, but a few simple memory aids can make it stick.

Mnemonics

• “Forty drops the ‘u’ like in forty days.”
• Think of forty winks—the spelling is always without “u.”

Visual Memory Tricks

• Write the word forty multiple times while speaking it aloud.
• Associate the word visually with “four tens” and see the missing “u” in your mind.

Repetition Techniques

• Use flashcards with numbers on one side and correct spellings on the other.
• Quiz yourself regularly until the correct spelling becomes instinctive.

Quick Tip Table: Memory Aids for Forty

Method	Example/Explanation
Mnemonic	“Forty drops the ‘u’ like in forty days”
Visual Association	Picture 4 sets of 10 items
Repetition	Write and speak “forty” 10 times daily
Flashcards	40 ↔ Forty

Common Mistakes & Examples

Even experienced writers slip up. Here’s how fourty typically shows up and how to correct it.

Comparison Examples

• Incorrect: “I waited fourty minutes for the bus.”
• Correct: “I waited forty minutes for the bus.”
• Incorrect: “Fourty students attended the lecture.”
• Correct: “Forty students attended the lecture.”

Spell-Check Limitations

• Some spell-check tools flag “fourty” as correct due to user-added dictionaries or informal writing sources.
• Manual review is always best, especially in professional or academic contexts.

Pro Tip: Whenever you write numbers in words, cross-check them with a reliable dictionary or trusted style guide like the Merriam-Webster Dictionary or Oxford English Dictionary.

Forty in Idioms, Expressions, and Pop Culture

“Forty” appears frequently in idioms and cultural references, always spelled correctly. Knowing these can reinforce the correct spelling.

Common Idioms

• “Life begins at forty” – a popular phrase reflecting adulthood milestones.
• “The forties” – used to describe the decade (e.g., the 1940s).
• “Forty winks” – meaning a short nap.

Pop Culture References

• Movies like Life Begins at Forty (1935)
• Songs mentioning “forty” in lyrics to denote age or quantity

Lesson: Idioms and cultural references never use “fourty,” so observing them reinforces the correct form.

Related Number Spelling Confusions

If “forty” trips you up, you’re not alone—other numbers have their quirks too.

Patterns in English Number Spellings

• Numbers ending in -ty often drop the vowel from the base number:
  • Thirty (from three)
  • Forty (from four)
  • Fifty (from five)
• Numbers ending in -teen match the base number:
  • Thirteen (from three)
  • Fourteen (from four)

Mini Cheat Sheet: Numbers 20–100

Number	Spelling	Notes
20	Twenty	Keep “w”
30	Thirty	Drop “e” from three
40	Forty	Drop “u” from four
50	Fifty	Drop “ve” from five
60	Sixty	Keep “x” from six
70	Seventy	Keep “n” from seven
80	Eighty	Keep “gh” from eight
90	Ninety	Keep “n” from nine
100	One hundred	No spelling shortcut

Understanding these patterns helps prevent mistakes and improves overall number spelling skills.

Conclusion

Understanding whether to write fourty or forty is more than a minor spelling detail. By following dictionaries, grammar guides, and practical tips, learners, students, and writers can ensure they always use the correct form. With attention to history, usage, and common mistakes, what once seemed tricky becomes second nature, making forty the universally accepted choice in English-speaking countries.

FAQs

Is “Fourty” ever correct?

No. “Fourty” is always considered a spelling error. The correct form is forty.

Why is “Forty” missing the “u”?

English historically simplified the spelling. The word comes from Old English “feowertig,” which dropped the “u” over time.

How do I remember the correct spelling?

Use mnemonics, write it repeatedly, or associate it visually with “four tens.”

Are there other numbers with similar spelling traps?

Yes. Thirty, fifty, and sixty follow similar patterns that drop letters from the base number.

Does American English differ from British English on this?

No. Both American and British English spell it forty.