Fourth or Forth? An Illustrated Lesson…

In the world of commonly confused words, “fourth or forth” is a common quandary! Let’s explore the difference between the two spellings, because one little letter can make a world of difference.

As background, my name is Ms. Marshall, and I’ve been an English teacher for twenty years, now. As I explained in my giant round-up of other common homophones, I hand-draw each and every illustration on this site, with love. On to today’s lesson!

“Fourth” Meaning and Definition

The definition of the word “fourth” is quite simple: It’s the spelled-out version of the numeric concept, “4th,” meaning it’s referring to something that is four places after something. For example, “The and symbol is the fourth character in the series: %$#&.”

You can remember that the spelling of “fourth” has a “u” in the middle because “four” has a “u,” as does fourteen. (“Forteen” is a misspelling!)

Note: What is highly confusing is that the number 40 is actually written “forty,” with no “u” — not like “fourty.” Er, let’s just ignore this mind-bender as we mosey on to the meaning of “forth.”

Forth Definition and Examples

The word “forth” is totally different from fourth. “Forth” is an adverb that means: “Forward or out from a starting point,” or, “Onward in time.”

For example: “From this day forth, I hope you won’t mix up these commonly misspelled words!” or, “Can you feel the knowledge seeping forth from the screen where you’re reading these words?”

Common Uses of Forth

• Write, “Back and forth,” not “Back and fourth.”

• Spell it: “…and so forth,” not, “…and so fourth.”

• Write: Draw forth, send forth, burst forth, send forth, call forth, bring forth, blossom forth, go forth, come forth, gush forth, issue forth, give forth to, and from this time (or day) forth — because synonyms of “forth” are essentially “onward,” “out,” or “forward.”

July Forth or July Fourth?

Now, I’m writing this article near America’s Independence Day celebration, so it begs the question: Is the spelling July Forth or July Fourth? Why, it’s the latter, of course — July Fourth — because July 4th is about the number four date that comes after the sequence July 1, 2, and 3!

Fourth or Forth, in Sum

In short, in the “fourth or forth” dilemma, use “fourth” when you’re speaking about something that’s number four in a sequence. Pick forth if you’re describing something moving outward or onward from a starting point.

Want more English spelling lessons? Check out “Believe vs. Beleive” for more hand-illustrated educational cartoons and engaging lessons for all ages!