What's the Difference Between 'Forth' and 'Fourth'?

In this blog post we look at when to use forth and when to use fourth.

'Forth' or 'Fourth'?

The words “forth” and “fourth” are homonyms, meaning that they are pronounced in the same way.  Although they are similar in sound they have very different meanings.

"Forth" is an adverb that means "forward in time or order." It is used to describe the progression or movement of something.

For example, you might say "we will discuss the topic further forth in the meeting" to indicate that the discussion of the topic will happen later in the meeting.

"Fourth," on the other hand, is an ordinal number that indicates something is the fourth in a series.

It can be used as a noun (e.g., "he was the fourth person to finish the race") or as an adjective (e.g., "the fourth chapter of the book").

So, the main difference between "forth" and "fourth" is that "forth" is an adverb that describes the progression or movement of something, while "fourth" is an ordinal number that indicates the position of something in a series.

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between "forth" and "fourth":

  • "We will continue our discussion forth in the meeting." (In this sentence, "forth" is an adverb that means "forward in time or order.")

  • "The fourth chapter of the book covers the history of the company." (In this sentence, "fourth" is an adjective that describes the noun "chapter," indicating that it is the fourth chapter in the book.)

  • "She is the fourth person to win the award this year." (In this sentence, "fourth" is a noun that refers to the number 4 and indicates that the person is the fourth in a series to win the award.)

Examples of Forth in a Sentence

Here are 10 example sentences using the word "forth":

  1. "She stepped forth from the shadows and into the light."

  2. "He went forth on a journey to find himself."

  3. "They set forth on their adventure, not knowing what challenges lay ahead."

  4. "We will discuss this matter further forth in the meeting."

  5. "She stepped forth from the group, ready to present her ideas."

  6. "He emerged forth from the cave, blinking in the bright sunlight."

  7. "We must go forth and spread the word about this important cause."

  8. "She ventured forth into the unknown, determined to find what she was searching for."

  9. "He stepped forth from the ranks, ready to lead his team to victory."

  10. "We must move forth with caution and careful planning."

Examples of Fourth in a Sentence

Here are 10 example sentences using the word "fourth":

  1. "She was the fourth to finish the marathon."

  2. "He was the fourth member to join the group."

  3. "The fourth grade is an important year for students."

  4. "The fourth game of the series ended in a tie."

  5. "She was the fourth person to be interviewed for the job."

  6. "The Fourth of July is a national holiday in the United States."

  7. "He was the fourth person in his family to go to college."

  8. "The fourth layer of the cake was chocolate."

  9. "She was the fourth person to win the award this year."

  10. "The fourth goal of the team was scored in the final minute of the game."


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Forth or Fourth
Forth or Fourth