Do I write 'twenty second' or 'twenty-second'?

Use a hyphen when it functions as an adjective before a noun (twenty-second birthday). No hyphen when it follows the noun (He finished twenty second).

How do I pronounce 'twenty-second' in natural speech?

In casual speech, it often sounds like 'twenny-second' with the first 't' being a glottal stop in some dialects, and reduced vowels.

Is there a difference between '22nd' and 'twenty-second'?

No difference in meaning. '22nd' is the written abbreviation, while 'twenty-second' is the full word form. Use 'twenty-second' in formal writing.

Can 'twenty-second' be used as a noun?

Yes, particularly when referring to dates or positions: 'The twenty-second is a public holiday.' or 'She was the twenty-second to arrive.'

twenty-second

High

UK/ˌtwɛnti ˈsɛkənd/US/ˌtwɛnti ˈsɛkənd/

Neutral (used across all registers)

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

The ordinal number corresponding to the cardinal number 22; coming after the twenty-first in position.

The fraction 1/22; describing something that is one of 22 equal parts; also used for the 22nd day of a month or 22nd item in a series.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily functions as an ordinal number or fraction; hyphenated when used attributively before a noun.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both variants use the same form.

Connotations

Identical in both varieties. Neutral numerical term.

Frequency

Equal frequency in both varieties when referring to dates, positions, or fractions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

the twenty-second of Maytwenty-second birthdaytwenty-second amendmenttwenty-second floor

medium

twenty-second positiontwenty-second chaptertwenty-second anniversarytwenty-second century

weak

twenty-second attempttwenty-second minutetwenty-second questiontwenty-second item

Grammar

Valency Patterns

ordinal + of + [month/year]the + twenty-second + to + [verb]twenty-second + in + [series/sequence]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

next after twenty-first

Neutral

22nd

Weak

one-twenty-second1/22

Vocabulary

Antonyms

twenty-firsttwenty-third

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“on the twenty-second hour (rare, meaning very late)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in reports, rankings, or dates: 'The twenty-second item on the agenda.'

Academic

Used in citations, sequences, or fractional measurements: 'See chapter twenty-two.'

Everyday

Most common for dates: 'My birthday is on the twenty-second.'

Technical

Used in legal documents (amendments), sports positions, or serial numbering.

Examples

By Part of Speech

adjective

British English

She won the twenty-second prize in the raffle.
The twenty-storey building has its main entrance on the twenty-second floor.

American English

He finished in twenty-second place in the marathon.
The Twenty-Second Amendment limits presidential terms.

Examples

By CEFR Level

My birthday is on the twenty-second of June.
She is twenty-two years old. (Note: cardinal vs ordinal)

We're meeting on the twenty-second at 3 PM.
He came twenty-second in the competition.

The twenty-second chapter contains the most important findings.
Approximately one twenty-second of the population was surveyed.

The Twenty-Second Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified in 1951.
Her twenty-second attempt finally yielded successful results.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think '20 + 2nd' = twenty-second. The hyphen connects the two parts.

Conceptual Metaphor

POSITION AS NUMBER (being in the 22nd position), TIME AS POSITION ON A PATH (22nd day of the month)

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid translating as 'двадцать второй' without context - English requires 'the' before it in many cases ('the twenty-second of March').
Russian uses ordinal numbers differently in dates (22 мая vs 'the twenty-second of May').

Common Mistakes

Writing as 'twenty second' without hyphen when used attributively
Incorrect: 'I was twenty-second in queue' (should be 'the twenty-second in the queue')
Mispronouncing as 'twenty-two-th'

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The meeting has been rescheduled for the of November.

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct written form when used before a noun?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Use a hyphen when it functions as an adjective before a noun (twenty-second birthday). No hyphen when it follows the noun (He finished twenty second).
: In casual speech, it often sounds like 'twenny-second' with the first 't' being a glottal stop in some dialects, and reduced vowels.
: No difference in meaning. '22nd' is the written abbreviation, while 'twenty-second' is the full word form. Use 'twenty-second' in formal writing.
: Yes, particularly when referring to dates or positions: 'The twenty-second is a public holiday.' or 'She was the twenty-second to arrive.'