Forty or Fourty? Correct Spelling, History, and Rules

Quick Summary:

The only correct modern spelling of the number 40 is “forty” (without the letter “u”). Although the number 4 is spelled “four” and 14 is spelled “fourteen,” the “u” is dropped when writing “forty.” “Fourty” is an obsolete Middle English variant that is classified as a spelling error across all standard modern English dialects, including American, British, and Canadian English.

Introduction: Why Numbers Cause Spelling Confusion in English

English spelling can sometimes seem illogical, especially when words within the same family do not follow the exact same pattern.

Consider the sequence of numbers based on four:

The number 4 is written as four.
The ordinal 4th is written as fourth.
The number 14 is written as fourteen.
The number 40 is written as forty.

Why does the letter “u” appear in four, fourth, and fourteen, but suddenly disappear when we reach forty?

Because of this visual inconsistency, thousands of English learners and native speakers mistakenly write “fourty.” They assume that because four contains a “u,” adding the suffix -ty to form forty should produce fourty—just as adding -ty to six forms sixty or adding -ty to seventy forms seventy.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the correct spelling of 40, explores why the letter “u” was dropped historically, explains regional variations, and demonstrates how to write 40 on financial checks and official documents.

Forty vs. Fourty: Which One Is Correct?

In modern standard English, the spelling forty is the only accepted form.

“Fourty” is incorrect. Whether you are writing a university essay, sending a business email, publishing a book, or filling out a legal form, using “fourty” is treated as a spelling mistake by digital spell-checkers, editors, and educators worldwide.

Number Spelling Rule:

  [ 4 ]  ---> four     (Includes 'u')
  [ 14 ] ---> fourteen (Includes 'u')
  [ 40 ] ---> FORTY    (DROPS the 'u')

While the pronunciation of forty rhymes perfectly with shorty and shares a similar vowel sound with four, the written form drops the “u” entirely.

Why Is 40 Spelled Without a “U”? (The Historical Origin)

To understand why the “u” was dropped from forty, we must look at the history of the English language and how pronunciation shifted across centuries.

The Evolution of “Forty” Across Eras

Before English spelling became standardized in dictionaries during the 18th and 19th centuries, writers spelled words phonetically based on local spoken dialects. According to historical records in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the spelling of 40 went through dozens of transformations:

Old English (7th to 11th Century): Written as féowertig, féowurtig, or feuortig.
Middle English (12th to 15th Century): As regional dialects developed across Britain, writers used variants such as fowwerrtig, feowerti, fuerti, vourti, fourty, and forti. During this era, fourty was indeed used alongside forti.
Early Modern English (16th to 18th Century): Variations began to shrink down to fourtie, fourtye, fortie, and forty.

Why the “U” Was Permanently Dropped

During the 16th and 17th centuries, printers, scholars, and early dictionary creators began standardizing English spelling. As English pronunciation evolved, the vowel sound in forty shortened compared to the longer vowel sound in four.

To reflect this shorter vowel sound in print, lexicographers systematically dropped the silent “u,” permanently locking in forty as the standard dictionary spelling.

While fourteen retained the “u” to preserve its visual connection to four, forty adopted the streamlined spelling we use today.

Regional Spelling: US, UK, Canada, and Australia

A common misconception among English learners is that fourty is British English while forty is American English.

Unlike words with real regional variations—such as color (US) vs. colour (UK) or organize (US) vs. organise (UK)—the spelling “forty” is universal.

Regional Comparison Matrix:

  American English (US):   FORTY (Correct) | Fourty (Incorrect)
  British English (UK):    FORTY (Correct) | Fourty (Incorrect)
  Canadian English (CA):   FORTY (Correct) | Fourty (Incorrect)
  Australian English (AU): FORTY (Correct) | Fourty (Incorrect)

Is “Fourty” Used in Canada or Britain?

Even though Canadian and British English retain the “u” in words like neighbour, favour, and harbour, both Canadian and British English spell the number 40 as forty.

Major publishing houses, news outlets (such as the BBC, The New York Times, and CBC), academic journals, and government documents in all English-speaking countries exclusively recognize forty.

How to Write 40 on a Financial Check

When writing a financial check or legal contract, you are often required to write out numerical amounts in full words to prevent fraud or misinterpretation.

Because writing on a check requires precision, misspelling 40 as “fourty” can cause confusion or lead a bank teller to flag the check for review.

Correct Check Writing Examples:

For $40.00: Write “Forty dollars and 00/100”
For $44.50: Write “Forty-four dollars and 50/100”
For $140.00: Write “One hundred forty dollars and 00/100”

Always ensure that you spell the word as forty when filling out legal or financial documentation.

Common Idioms and Phrases Using “Forty”

The word forty appears in several famous historical terms, literary titles, and cultural idioms:

1. Forty Winks

Meaning: A short, restful nap during the daytime (usually 15 to 30 minutes).
Example: “I am feeling exhausted after that long meeting; I think I’ll grab forty winks before dinner.”

2. Forty-Niners (49ers)

Historical Origin: Refers to the estimated 300,000 pioneers who migrated to California in 1849 during the famous California Gold Rush. It is also the official name of San Francisco’s American football team (the San Francisco 49ers).
Example: “In 1849, thousands of forty-niners traveled west in search of gold.”

3. Life Begins at Forty

Meaning: A popular modern saying suggesting that by the time a person reaches 40 years of age, they possess the experience, wisdom, and financial stability to truly enjoy life.
Example: “Don’t worry about getting older; remember that life begins at forty!”

Summary Comparison Table

Term	Status in Modern English	Grammatical Category	Correct Example Sentence
Forty	Correct Standard	Cardinal Number / Noun	“The conference room holds forty* guests.”*
Fourty	Incorrect / Obsolete	Misspelling	Not recognized in modern dictionaries.
Four	Correct Standard	Cardinal Number (4)	“She has four* brothers.”*
Fourteen	Correct Standard	Cardinal Number (14)	“He turned fourteen* years old yesterday.”*
Fourth	Correct Standard	Ordinal Number (4th)	“This is the fourth* time we have met.”*
Fortieth	Correct Standard	Ordinal Number (40th)	“We celebrated their fortieth* anniversary.”*

Practice Exercise: Test Your Knowledge

Choose the correct option to complete each sentence:

The bus trip took approximately ________ minutes to reach the station.

a) fourty

b) forty

c) fourtye
Which of the following numbers retains the letter “u” in its standard spelling?

a) 40

b) 40th

c) 14
How should you write the word for 40 when writing a bank check?

a) Forty dollars

b) Fourty dollars

c) Fourty-zero dollars

(Answers: 1 = b, 2 = c, 3 = a)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 14 spelled “fourteen” but 40 spelled “forty”?

In the historical development of English, the vowel sound in forty shortened over time, prompting 16th and 17th-century lexicographers to drop the silent “u” to reflect its spoken pronunciation. Fourteen retained the long vowel sound and kept the “u” to preserve its visual link to four.

How do you spell 40th in words?

The ordinal form of 40 is spelled fortieth (dropping the “u” from four and changing the final -y to -ieth). For example: “Today is her fortieth birthday.”

Is “fourty” accepted in official word games like Scrabble?

No. Because “fourty” is universally classified as an obsolete misspelling in modern English, standard dictionaries and competitive word games like Scrabble do not accept “fourty” as a valid word.

Master English Vocabulary and Spelling Rules

Understanding why words like “forty” drop letters over time reveals the rich history of the English language and helps you eliminate common spelling mistakes in your writing.

To continue expanding your knowledge of English spelling, number grammar, and vocabulary patterns, explore our full library of guides on the English Forward Grammar Hub.

Have a question about a tricky spelling rule or number usage? Share your question in the English Forward Language Community Forum to receive direct feedback and assistance from certified ESL teachers and native speakers!

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Forty vs fourty: Which word is correct?