You are filling out a form. You reach the date box and stop. Is it 22th or 22nd? Both look fine at first glance. However only one is right and it is 22nd.
In this guide you will learn why 22nd is correct. You will also see the simple rule behind it. Next you will get date examples and common mistakes. Then you will pick up easy tricks to remember it. Finally you will find quick answers to the questions people ask most.
22nd is the correct spelling. The number 22 ends in 2. So it takes the suffix nd. That ending matches the last letters of the word second. Writing 22th is a common mistake. Say it aloud as twenty second.
22th or 22nd: The Short Answer
Let’s keep this simple. The right form is 22nd. You write the digits 22 and add the letters nd. You say twenty second. That is all.
Why does this small detail matter? Because readers notice it. A wrong suffix on a resume or an essay looks careless. Also spell checkers often miss it. Many tools see 22th as harmless text. So you need to know the rule yourself.
The good news is that the rule is easy. It works for 2nd, 22nd, 32nd and 42nd. It also works for every larger number that ends in 2. There is only one small exception and we will cover it soon.
Vocabulary.com backs this up. Its entry for twenty second lists 22nd as the written form.
What Ordinal Numbers Are
Before we go deeper let’s define the term. Ordinal numbers show order. They tell you the place of something in a line or list. First, second and third are the best known examples.
Ordinal Numbers vs Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers count things. They answer the question how many. For example you can have 22 apples.
Ordinal numbers show position. They answer the question which one. For example you can finish 22nd in a race.
Merriam-Webster describes an ordinal number as a number that gives the place of an item in an ordered sequence. Its kids entry even uses 22nd as one of its examples.
Here is how the two types differ in real sentences:
- Cardinal: 22 people came to the party.
- Ordinal: She was the 22nd person to arrive.
- Cardinal: He turns 22 today.
- Ordinal: Today is his 22nd birthday.
Notice the age example. You say he turns 22. You never say he turns 22nd. Age always uses a cardinal number.
The Four Endings
Written ordinals use four endings. They are st, nd, rd and th. The last digit of the number picks the ending.
- Numbers ending in 1 take st as in 1st, 21st and 31st.
- Numbers ending in 2 take nd as in 2nd, 22nd and 32nd.
- Numbers ending in 3 take rd as in 3rd, 23rd and 33rd.
- Every other number takes th as in 4th, 20th and 25th.
So 22 lands in the nd group. There is no debate.
Why 22nd Is Correct
The ending follows the spoken word. Say twenty second out loud. The last word is second. Second ends in nd. So the written form ends in nd too.
The same idea works for the other groups. Twenty first ends in first so you write 21st. Twenty third ends in third so you write 23rd. Twenty fourth ends in fourth so you write 24th. The last spoken word always sets the ending.
Also note that only the last digit matters. The tens digit has no say. Thirty second becomes 32nd. Forty second becomes 42nd. Ninety second becomes 92nd. The pattern never changes.
Why People Write 22th
Nobody types 22th on purpose. The mistake has clear causes. Here are the three biggest.
First, most ordinals end in th. From 4th to 20th every ending is th. The brain forms a habit. Then it applies that habit where it does not belong.
Second, twentieth sounds close to twenty. Some people mix up twentieth and twenty second. Both start with the same sound. So the th ending sneaks in.
Third, 12th ends in th. Many people remember that and assume all numbers ending in 2 should match. In truth 12th is a special case. Most numbers that end in 2 take nd.
The Teen Exception: 11th, 12th and 13th
Now for the one true exception. Numbers ending in 11, 12 and 13 take th. So you write 11th, 12th and 13th. You also write 111th, 112th and 113th.
Why? Because we say eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth. The last word ends in th. The spoken rule wins again.
However 22 is not a teen number. So it gets no exception. Watch larger numbers too. The number 122 ends in 22 and not in 12. So it becomes 122nd. That one trips up a lot of writers.
How to Write the 22nd in Dates
Dates are where most people meet this number. The 22nd of any month is easy once you know the ending. Style still shifts from place to place though.
American Style
In the United States the month comes first. You can write March 22 or March 22nd. Both are common. Many style guides prefer the plain numeral in month and day dates. Still the suffix is fine in casual writing.
You say March twenty second. That is the natural way to read it aloud.
British Style
In the United Kingdom the day comes first. You can write 22 March or 22nd March. You can also write the 22nd of March. All three are correct. In speech people say the twenty second of March.
Numerals or Words in Formal Writing
Formal writing has its own habits. Many guides spell out small ordinals such as first and second. They use numerals for larger ones such as 11th and 22nd. Some guides go further and spell out every ordinal under one hundred. So check the guide your school or company follows. When in doubt stay consistent inside one document.
Ordinal Numbers From 20 to 33
Here is a quick reference. Keep it handy for forms and reports.
- 20 is twentieth and you write 20th.
- 21 is twenty first and you write 21st.
- 22 is twenty second and you write 22nd.
- 23 is twenty third and you write 23rd.
- 24 is twenty fourth and you write 24th.
- 30 is thirtieth and you write 30th.
- 31 is thirty first and you write 31st.
- 32 is thirty second and you write 32nd.
- 33 is thirty third and you write 33rd.
Notice that 20th and 30th end in th. That is because we say twentieth and thirtieth. Every other number in the list follows the last digit rule.
How to Say 22nd Out Loud
Pronunciation trips people up too. Say twenty second. Break it into parts. It sounds like twen tee sek und. The stress falls on twen and on sek.
Do not say twenty two when you mean the ordinal. For example say the twenty second of May. Do not say the twenty two of May. Casual speech often drops the ending. Still writing needs the full form.
Also skip the made up word twenty twoth. It does not exist.
Where the Ordinal Endings Come From
A little history helps the rule make sense. English built most ordinals by adding a th sound to the number. Fourth, fifth and sixth all work this way.
First and third come from older English roots. They kept their odd shapes. Second is different. It entered English later through French and goes back to a Latin word for following. Before that English often used the word other for the second item.
Because of this history three ordinals look odd. First, second and third do not follow the th pattern. Writers later shortened ordinals by keeping the last two letters of the word. So first became 1st and second became 2nd. Twenty second became 22nd in the same way.
Superscript or Plain Text
Some writers raise the letters so the nd sits small and high. Word processors often do this on their own. Both styles are correct.
Plain text works better on the web and in email. Raised letters can vanish when you copy and paste. So plain text is the safer choice online. In print either style works. Just stay consistent.
22nd in Texting and Social Media
Some readers search this phrase because they think it is slang. It is not. The 22nd has no hidden meaning in texts or posts. It simply marks a date or a position.
People use it for birthday posts and event dates. They also use it for race results and rankings. Autocorrect sometimes changes 22nd to 22th or 22 nd. So read your message before you hit send. A quick check makes you look sharp.
Where You Will See 22nd
The number shows up in many places. Here are a few facts worth knowing:
- The 22nd Amendment limits a United States president to two elected terms.
- The letter V is the 22nd letter of the alphabet.
- The 22nd century runs from the year 2101 to 2200.
- A 22nd birthday marks 22 years of life.
- Street names such as 22nd Street use the same spelling.
Each one uses nd. None uses th.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most errors with this number fall into a few groups. Watch for these:
- Writing 22th instead of 22nd
- Writing 22sd or 22rd instead of 22nd
- Writing turns 22nd when you mean turns 22
- Writing 12nd instead of 12th
- Writing 122th instead of 122nd
The 22sd form is a typing slip. Some people also type 22 nd with a space. Do not add a space between the digits and the letters. Write 22nd as one clean unit.
The 12nd error is the reverse of the 22th error. People learn that numbers ending in 2 take nd. Then they apply it to 12. But 12 is a teen number so it takes th.
Easy Tricks to Remember the Spelling
Small tricks make the rule stick. Try these:
- Say the number aloud and listen to the last word.
- Link 22nd to the word second in your mind.
- Check only the last digit and skip the tens digit.
- Remember that 11, 12 and 13 always take th.
- Type 22nd five times to train your fingers.
English learners can use one more habit. Write the spoken form first. Then copy the last two letters. Twenty second gives you nd. Twenty third gives you rd. This works every time.
Quick Practice
Pick the right ending for each number. Then check your answers.
- 32 becomes 32nd because it ends in 2.
- 42 becomes 42nd because it ends in 2.
- 52 becomes 52nd because it ends in 2.
- 101 becomes 101st because it ends in 1.
- 112 becomes 112th because it ends in 12.
- 122 becomes 122nd because it ends in 22.
Did you get them all? If so you have mastered the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it 22th or 22nd?
22nd is correct. The number ends in 2 so it takes nd, which matches the end of the word second.
Is 22th ever correct?
No. Standard English never accepts 22th. Use 22nd in essays, emails, forms and dates.
How do you write the 22nd of a month?
Write March 22 or March 22nd in American style. In British style write 22 March. Say twenty second either way.
Why does 12 take th but 22 takes nd?
Twelve becomes twelfth in speech while twenty two becomes twenty second. The spoken word sets the ending. Numbers that end in 12 always take th.
What is the ordinal form of 22?
It is twenty second, written 22nd. It marks position 22 in a series such as a race or a list.
Conclusion
The answer to 22th or 22nd is clear. Write 22nd every time. The last digit is 2 so the ending is nd. That ending mirrors the spoken word second.
Now you have a rule that works far beyond this one number. Listen to the last word you say. Then copy its last two letters. Remember the teen exception for 11, 12 and 13. With those two habits you can fix any ordinal number in seconds. So go ahead and write your next date with confidence.
