Fourth and forth sound almost identical, but they have completely different meanings and grammatical uses. Fourth is mainly used for the number 4 in a sequence, while forth means forward, onward, or outward and commonly appears in expressions such as back and forth, set forth, and and so forth.
This small spelling difference can cause mistakes in emails, school assignments, business writing, and everyday communication. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when to use fourth or forth, how to remember the difference, which common phrases use each word, and how to avoid confusing them.
Fourth or Forth: Quick Answer
The short answer
- Fourth = number 4 in a sequence; also one of four equal parts.
- Forth = forward, onward, outward, or away; usually used in formal expressions and idioms.
| Word | Main meaning | Example |
| fourth | 4th in a sequence | She finished fourth in the race. |
| forth | forward or onward | They moved forth into the forest. |
Quick memory tip:
Four → fourth. If you are talking about 4, use fourth. If the idea is moving forward or onward, use forth.
Cambridge and Oxford both distinguish fourth as the ordinal number for 4 and forth as an adverb meaning forward, onward, away, or out.
What Does Fourth Mean?
Fourth as an ordinal number
Fourth is the ordinal form of the number four. It describes something that comes after first, second, and third.
Examples:
- Maria came fourth in the competition.
- This is my fourth attempt.
- He lives on the fourth floor.
- Today is her fourth birthday.
- The fourth chapter explains the main problem.
Oxford defines fourth as the ordinal number representing 4th.
The word can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun depending on the sentence.
Fourth in dates and sequences
You will often see fourth when talking about dates, rankings, stages, or positions.
For example:
- The meeting is on the fourth of May.
- She was the fourth person to arrive.
- Read the fourth paragraph.
- The team finished fourth overall.
In American English, the Fourth of July is the common name for Independence Day.
Fourth as a fraction
Fourth can also mean one of four equal parts, or one-quarter.
Examples:
- He ate a fourth of the cake.
- One fourth of the students were absent.
- Divide the paper into fourths.
Cambridge lists this fractional meaning, while Oxford notes that fourth as a noun is especially common in North American English and can mean one of four equal parts.
Fourth in business and professional writing
Fourth is also common in workplace and financial language:
- fourth quarter
- fourth-quarter earnings
- fourth-quarter results
- fourth-quarter sales
For example:
The company reported strong growth during the fourth quarter.
This is especially useful in reports, presentations, financial documents, and business news.
Key takeaway: If the meaning involves number 4, position four, or one-quarter, fourth is the correct word.
What Does Forth Mean?
Forth means forward or onward
Forth is an adverb that traditionally means forward, onward, outward, or away. It is much less common as a standalone word in modern everyday English, but it remains common in certain expressions and formal or literary writing.
Examples:
- The soldiers marched forth.
- She stepped forth to accept the award.
- They traveled forth into the unknown.
- The explorers moved forth despite the difficult conditions.
Oxford describes forth as meaning away from a place, out, or toward a place/forward.
Forth in modern expressions
You are much more likely to encounter forth in established phrases than in ordinary sentences.
Common examples include:
- back and forth
- and so forth
- from that day forth
- set forth
- bring forth
- put forth
- go forth
- call forth
For example:
We walked back and forth across the room.
The report sets forth the company’s new policies.
The teacher explained the rules, procedures, and so forth.
Key takeaway: Forth is connected with movement, continuation, or bringing something forward—not the number 4.
Fourth vs. Forth: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Fourth | Forth |
| Part of speech | Ordinal number; also noun/adverb | Adverb |
| Main meaning | Number 4 or one of four parts | Forward, onward, outward |
| Related to “four”? | Yes | No |
| Common in everyday English? | Very common | Mostly in set phrases |
| Example | The fourth student answered. | They marched forth. |
| Common phrase | fourth quarter | back and forth |
| Fractional meaning | Yes, 1/4 | No |
| Number sequence | Yes | No |
This distinction is useful because the words are pronounced similarly but belong to different semantic categories. Oxford explicitly identifies forth and fourth as homophones.
Fourth or Forth in Common Phrases
Phrases with fourth
These expressions normally require fourth:
- fourth place
- fourth grade
- fourth floor
- fourth time
- fourth quarter
- fourth chapter
- fourth generation
- the Fourth of July
- one fourth
- three-fourths
Examples:
Our office is on the fourth floor.
This is the fourth time I’ve contacted support.
The company performed well in the fourth quarter.
Phrases with forth
These expressions require forth:
- back and forth
- and so forth
- from that day forth
- set forth
- bring forth
- put forth
- go forth
- call forth
Examples:
The two teams exchanged emails back and forth.
The contract sets forth the terms of the agreement.
We discussed pricing, delivery, payment, and so forth.
From that day forth, everything changed.
Cambridge lists several established uses of forth, including back and forth, from that day forth, and set forth.
How to Decide Between Fourth and Forth
Use this simple decision test
Ask yourself one question:
Am I talking about the number 4 or something moving forward?
If the answer is number 4 → use fourth.
- the fourth person
- the fourth chapter
- the fourth attempt
- fourth place
If the answer is forward/onward → use forth.
- move forth
- go forth
- set forth
- back and forth
A fast decision framework
Is it connected to “four”?
↓
Yes → FOURTH
Does it mean forward, onward, outward, or away?
↓
Yes → FORTH
Is it part of a fixed expression?
↓
Check the phrase: back and forth, set forth, and so forth, etc.
This method is faster than trying to remember the pronunciation because pronunciation does not reliably distinguish the two words.
Fourth or Forth: Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “forth” for the number 4
Incorrect:
She finished forth in the competition.
Correct:
She finished fourth in the competition.
Why? The sentence describes her position in a sequence: first, second, third, fourth.
Mistake 2: Writing “fourth and back”
Incorrect:
We walked fourth and back.
Correct:
We walked back and forth.
The expression back and forth means repeatedly moving from one place or position to another and back again.
Mistake 3: Writing “and so fourth”
Incorrect:
We discussed books, movies, music, and so fourth.
Correct:
We discussed books, movies, music, and so forth.
The phrase and so forth means that a list continues in the same way.
Mistake 4: Confusing “set forth” with “set fourth”
Incorrect:
The document sets fourth the company’s policies.
Correct:
The document sets forth the company’s policies.
Here, set forth means to state, present, or explain something clearly.
Key takeaway: When the word belongs to an established expression, learn the whole phrase rather than choosing based on sound.
Why Are Fourth and Forth So Easy to Confuse?
They sound almost the same
The main reason for confusion is pronunciation. Both words are pronounced with the same or very similar sound in standard English. Oxford specifically lists them as homophones.
That means listening alone may not tell you which spelling is correct.
For example, if someone says:
“She came fourth.”
You hear a sound that can be confused with forth.
The meaning and context provide the answer.
Their spellings suggest different meanings
A useful visual connection is:
four → fourth
The word fourth visibly contains four, which makes it easier to associate with the number.
By contrast, forth does not contain the word four and is associated with movement or direction.
Fourth vs. Forth in Professional Writing
Business communication
Use fourth when referring to rankings, stages, quarters, or numerical order.
The company expects stronger results in the fourth quarter.
Use forth when it appears in an established phrase:
The agreement sets forth the responsibilities of each department.
Academic writing
Academic writing commonly uses fourth for numbered stages and positions:
The fourth section discusses the study’s limitations.
Forth is less common as a standalone adverb in modern academic prose, although expressions such as and so forth can occur.
For formal academic writing, a specific list is often clearer than using and so forth when the omitted information matters.
Emails and workplace communication
A simple distinction can prevent embarrassing spelling errors:
Please review the fourth section of the report.
but:
The attached document sets forth the proposed procedures.
The first refers to position; the second uses a fixed expression meaning “states” or “lays out.”
Fourth or Forth: Expert Usage Tips
1. Look for “four”
If you can replace the word with 4th, choose fourth.
the fourth meeting → the 4th meeting
If replacing it with 4th makes no sense, check whether forth means forward or belongs to a fixed phrase.
2. Memorize phrases, not isolated words
Instead of memorizing only forth, learn:
- back and forth
- set forth
- and so forth
- from that day forth
This reduces mistakes because you recognize the complete expression.
3. Do not rely on pronunciation
Because fourth and forth are homophones, spelling depends on meaning and context, not sound.
4. Be especially careful with “so forth”
The correct expression is always:
and so forth
Not:
and so fourth
This is one of the most common spelling mistakes involving the two words.
Can Fourth and Forth Ever Be Interchanged?
No. They are not interchangeable simply because they sound alike.
Consider:
He finished fourth.
This means he finished in position 4.
He moved forth.
This means he moved forward or onward.
Changing one word for the other changes the meaning or makes the sentence incorrect.
There are also cases where neither word fits. For example, if you mean for the fourth time, neither forth nor a shortened form of it should be substituted for fourth.
Mini Quiz: Fourth or Forth?
Choose the correct word in each sentence.
- This is my ___ attempt.
- The two children ran back and ___.
- The contract sets ___ the terms.
- She finished ___ in the race.
- We divided the cake into ___.
- We discussed the budget, schedule, and so ___.
Answers
- fourth
- forth
- forth
- fourth
- fourths
- forth
The pattern is straightforward: numerical order and quarters use fourth, while movement and established expressions use forth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “fourth” the same as “forth”?
No. Fourth refers mainly to the number 4 in a sequence, while forth means forward, onward, outward, or away and appears frequently in fixed expressions.
Is “forth” a number?
No. Forth is not a numerical word. It is an adverb associated with movement, direction, or continuation.
Is “fourth” a real word?
Yes. Fourth is the standard English ordinal form of four, meaning 4th. It can also refer to one of four equal parts.
What is the correct phrase: “back and fourth” or “back and forth”?
The correct phrase is back and forth. It describes repeated movement or exchange between two places, people, or positions.
Is it “and so forth” or “and so fourth”?
The correct expression is and so forth. It means that a list or series continues in the same way.
Is “set fourth” correct?
No, when you mean “present” or “state,” the correct phrase is set forth.
For example:
The report sets forth the company’s recommendations.
How do you remember fourth vs. forth?
Connect fourth with four. If the sentence refers to 4th place, the fourth item, or one-quarter, use fourth. For movement or phrases such as back and forth, use forth.
Are fourth and forth pronounced the same?
They are generally pronounced the same or very similarly in standard English, which is why they are easy to confuse in speech. Oxford lists them as homophones.
Can “fourth” mean one-quarter?
Yes. A fourth can mean one of four equal parts, or 1/4. For example, “a fourth of the cake” means one-quarter of the cake.
Is “forth” common in modern English?
Forth is less common as an independent word in everyday conversation, but it remains very common in expressions such as back and forth, set forth, and and so forth.
Key Takeaways
- Fourth means 4th or one of four equal parts.
- Forth means forward, onward, outward, or away.
- Fourth is connected directly to four.
- Back and forth is always spelled with forth.
- And so forth is the correct expression.
- Set forth means to state, present, or explain something.
- Because the words sound alike, use meaning and context, not pronunciation, to choose the spelling.
Editorial Note
For everyday writing, the simplest rule is enough: if you mean the number 4, write “fourth”; if you mean forward or are using a phrase such as “back and forth,” write “forth.” This distinction follows the meanings given by major learner dictionaries, including Cambridge and Oxford.
References
- Cambridge Dictionary — “fourth”
- Cambridge Dictionary — “forth”
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — “fourth”
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — “forth”
Conclusion
Fourth and forth are easy to confuse because they sound alike, but their meanings are clearly different. Use fourth for the number 4, positions, sequences, and quarters. Use forth for forward movement and expressions such as back and forth, set forth, and and so forth.
David James is an English language enthusiast, writer, and author at StudyNixx, a website dedicated to helping readers understand confusing English words, spelling differences, and commonly mistaken word forms. He focuses on making English language learning simple, practical, and easy to understand.
David is also the author of two books on English language and word usage, where he explores common spelling mistakes, confusing words, and practical ways to improve written English. Through his writing and educational content, he helps students, writers, and everyday English learners choose the right words with confidence.
At StudyNixx, David covers common word comparisons such as summary vs. summery, shiny vs. shiney, spicy vs. spicey, and breached vs. breeched. His goal is to provide clear, useful, and reliable explanations that make English spelling and word usage easier for everyone.