eighty-eighth
LowNeutral, slightly formal in numeral contexts
Definition
Meaning
The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number eighty-eight; denoting position 88 in a sequence.
Can denote a fractional part of one eighty-eighth (1/88).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a numerical identifier; used in sequencing, labeling, and fractions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Hyphenation standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral numerical descriptor in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, used only in specific sequencing contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the [eighty-eighth] [noun][noun] [number] [eighty-eighth]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal reports, contract clauses, or historical financial data (e.g., 'the eighty-eighth fiscal quarter').
Academic
Used in historical chronology, page numbering in long documents, or statistical sequences.
Everyday
Used in birthdays, anniversaries, or describing position in a long queue or list.
Technical
Used in precise sequencing, such as in manufacturing batch numbers, software versioning, or astronomical catalogs.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He finished in eighty-eighth place in the marathon.
American English
- The amendment was proposed during the Eighty-Eighth Congress.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother is eighty-eight years old. Today is her eighty-eighth birthday.
- The recipe is on the eighty-eighth page of the cookbook.
- The company's stock price peaked in its eighty-eighth week of trading.
- The eighty-eighth element in the periodic table is radium, a fact often recalled in advanced chemistry.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'eighty' plus 'eight' with a 'th' sound – it's the number 88 in order.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSITION AS A POINT ON A PATH (e.g., 'reaching the eighty-eighth milestone').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'восемьдесят восьмой' for fractions; for 1/88, use 'одна восемьдесят восьмая'.
Common Mistakes
- Writing as 'eightyeighth' without a hyphen.
- Mispronouncing the second '-th' sound as '-t'.
Practice
Quiz
How is the ordinal number 88 correctly written?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as a compound ordinal number between twenty-one and ninety-nine, it is standard to hyphenate.
Yes, for example in fractions: 'One eighty-eighth of the total' or in racing: 'The eighty-eighth was disqualified.'
It is a voiceless dental fricative /θ/, the same 'th' sound as in 'think'. Practice saying 'eight' and then add the /θ/ sound smoothly.
No, 'eighty-eighth' is the standard spelling. The numeral form '88th' is also universally accepted.