fifteen

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'fifteen' is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the number 15, and can be used in any context where this number is relevant. Example: "The student received fifteen out of twenty on the exam, indicating a strong understanding of the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

What did McAllen doctors do fifteen years ago?

The Economist

But the fact that more than fifteen per cent of personal consumption expenditures now go to medical care, when in 1930 only three per cent of personal consumption did, isn't a reflection of frivolity, and that's not going to change any time soon.

The Economist

There's good food on site, or you can nip around the corner to Fifteen or The Beach Hut, then take a walk in the bay or on the South West Coast Path.

The Guardian - Travel

"It used to be a true blue seat, so actually the transition from Conservative to Liberal Democrats showed that there was a change there anyway, and that's just to do with the very sharp increase in public sector employment in South Yorkshire over the past ten or fifteen years".

The Guardian

Fifteen minutes away from the spruced-up centre of Lille, around the Gambetta metro station, you could be in any deprived town in the north of England.

The Guardian

Fifteen years later, I've learned that there's nothing uglier in nature than the naked middle-aged male.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

This means that iodine emitted thirty two days ago has by now lost fifteen-sixteenths of its radioactivity).On the basis that simplifying eases communication the INES scale runs together scale and consequence but good policy can to some extent separate them, and in Japan it seems to have done so.

The Economist

Defecting soldiers and frustrated civilians are pushing up the death toll, killing members of the security forces and pro-regime thugs known as the shabiha .I do have one," says a fifteen-year-old boy from one of the towns near Damascus, showing off his new plastic gun and its tiny sugary pellets.

The Economist

Fifteen-year-old me, suspended from school for having pink hair, waiting angrily for something to rebel against, would have our head in her hands to see that now we're, well, just some mum.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When Portland last had such options, the club put together a fifteen-game unbeaten run that took the Timbers to the top of the Western Conference.

The Guardian - Sport

Fifteen-year-old Robert said vigilante groups had expanded in his city following the new legislation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about quantities, be consistent in your use of numerals or words (e.g., always use "15" or always use "fifteen" within the same document).

Common error

Avoid using "fifteen" with singular nouns. Ensure the noun it modifies is plural to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "fifteen" is as a numeral, specifically a cardinal numeral, used to quantify nouns. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it expresses a specific numerical value.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "fifteen" is a commonly used and grammatically correct numeral that represents the quantity of 15. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in varied contexts, including news, formal writing, and scientific publications. Predominantly featured in News & Media, and other professional spheres. When using "fifteen", ensure correct numeral agreement with plural nouns. For alternative phrasing, consider "a quantity of fifteen" or "a total of fifteen" to adjust the emphasis. While numerals (15) are suitable for data-heavy content, spelling it out often fits better in general prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exactly fifteen

Adds emphasis to the precision of the number.

the number fifteen

Specifies that it is referring to the number itself.

a total of fifteen

Highlights the cumulative aspect of the number.

a quantity of fifteen

Replaces the numeral with a descriptive phrase, emphasizing the quantity.

fifteen in number

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the quantity as a characteristic.

approximately fifteen

Similar to "around fifteen", suggesting an estimation.

close to fifteen

Emphasizes the proximity to the number fifteen.

around fifteen

Indicates an approximate value close to fifteen.

a full fifteen

Adding a descriptive adjective as "full", suggesting a complete or significant quantity.

a good fifteen

Adding a descriptive adjective as "good", suggesting a noteworthy quantity.

FAQs

How do I use "fifteen" in a sentence?

"Fifteen" is used to specify a quantity of 15. For example, "There are fifteen students in the class."

What is the difference between "fifteen" and "fifteenth"?

"Fifteen" is a cardinal number indicating quantity, while "fifteenth" is an ordinal number indicating position in a sequence. For instance, "fifteen days" versus "the fifteenth day".

When should I use the numeral 15 instead of spelling out "fifteen"?

Use numerals (15) for data-heavy contexts like tables or statistics, and spell out "fifteen" in general prose, especially when it begins a sentence. Style guides like AP or Chicago offer specific recommendations.

Are there alternative ways to describe a quantity of fifteen?

You could say "a quantity of fifteen", "a total of fifteen", or "approximately fifteen" depending on the context and level of precision required.