enumerating numbers

[stephan.albusel]

Hello, I have this relatively simple question.
We all know we can write things like this:

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th,...., 23rd?

My question is how is this policy with appending these "th" sometimes,
sometimes "st" to all numbers? Basically, in which cases we should use which?

[emsr2d2]

Hello, I have this relatively simple question.
We all know we can write things like this:

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th,...., 23rd?

My question is how is this policy with appending these "th" sometimes,
sometimes "st" to all numbers? Basically, in which cases we should use which?

Welcome to the forum.

You just have to learn that:

After a 1, it's "st"
After a 2, it's "nd"
After a 3, it's "rd"
After 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, it's "th".

It helps if you actually think of the word as it is spoken. If you know that "one" becomes "first", then you look at the last two letters of "first", and there's your answer. The same with "second" - the last two letters are your answer. Same for "third", and then "fourth", "fifth" ...

[Tdol]

I would add that 11-20 take -th, then 21st,22nd,23rd,24th, etc.

[BobK]

Again - follow the advice given by emsr2d2, and think of the sound.

b

[emsr2d2]

I would add that 11-20 take -th, then 21st,22nd,23rd,24th, etc.

Thanks. Apologies - I completely forgot to deal with the 11, 12 and teen issue.