How Do You Spell 48?

  • Eseandre Mordi

  • 22 Feb 2024

In the English language, numbers have their own spelling that can sometimes be confusing. This article is dedicated to explaining the correct spelling of the number 48, a common figure in mathematics, age, and various other contexts.

Correct spelling of 48

It's essential to remember the hyphen (-) connecting 'forty' and 'eight'. This is a common rule for all numbers from 21 to 99 (except those divisible by 10) in the English language, where they must be hyphenated.

How can remember the correct spelling

A practical tip for remembering the spelling is to practice the rule of hyphenating numbers from 21 to 99 that aren't multiples of 10. Associating the number 4 (four) with 'forty' and then adding 'eight' to form forty-eight can also help solidify the spelling in your memory.

Common spelling mistakes

  • Fourty-eight: The misspelling stems from the incorrect spelling of "forty" as "fourty".
  • 48th: While not necessarily a spelling mistake, writing the ordinal form when the cardinal is needed can lead to misunderstanding.

These errors are common and understanding why they are incorrect can help in avoiding them.

Definition and etymology of 48

The number 48 is a cardinal number that follows 47 and precedes 49. It is an even number and in mathematics, can be described as a composite number made up of the prime numbers 2 and 3. The spelling 'forty-eight' has its roots in Old English, derived from 'feowertig' (forty) and 'eahta' (eight), which combined give us the modern spelling.

Transcription of 48

In phonetic transcription, "forty-eight" can be represented as /ˈfɔːr.ti.eɪt/ in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The transcription provides a guide on how the word should be pronounced, emphasizing the correct articulation of each part.

Examples of using of 48

  • My grandfather is forty-eight years old.
  • There are forty-eight countries in Asia.
  • She bought forty-eight chocolate bars for the party.

FAQ

What does the word mean? 
The word represents the number immediately following 47 and preceding 49.

Words Closely Related: forty, Eight, Forty-nine

Synonyms?

None, as this is a numeral.

For the number 48, there is no difference in spelling between American and British English. Both cultures spell the number as forty-eight, with the hyphen connecting two words.

Academic Dictionaries where 48 can be found

  1. Oxford English Dictionary.
  2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
  3. Collins Dictionary.


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