Common Mistake: Number + (th, nd, st, rd)

One common mistake that many people make in English is incorrectly using number ordinals like "th", "nd", "st", and "rd" when writing dates or indicating a sequence.

When to Use Ordinals

Ordinals are used to show the position or order of something in a series or a sequence. They are added to cardinal numbers (numbers that represent quantity or count) to create ordinals.

For example:

• 1st (first)
• 2nd (second)
• 3rd (third)
• 4th (fourth)
• 5th (fifth)

Ordinals are commonly used when:

• Referring to dates: March 1st, 2022
• Indicating order: She came in 3rd place.
• Enumerating items in a list: My top 5 favorite movies are...

Common Mistake: Number + (th, nd, st, rd)

The common mistake occurs when people incorrectly use the ordinals with numbers that are not cardinal numbers but rather serve a different purpose.

For example:

• "I met him on the 25th of May." (Incorrect)

The correct way to write this would be:

• "I met him on the 25th day of May." (Correct)

Another example:

• "She lives on the 3rd floor." (Incorrect)

The correct way to write this would be:

• "She lives on the third floor." (Correct)

This mistake can often be spotted by recognizing that the number in these instances is not representing quantity or count, but rather serving a different function within the sentence.

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