fifth

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "fifth" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to the number after Fourth and before Sixth. For example, "On my fifth birthday, I had a party with all my friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But there is no fifth vote yet.

The New York Times

Last November the governor of Oregon, John Kitzhaber, put a moratorium on all executions and in April Connecticut became the fifth state in as many years to abandon capital punishment altogether.

The Guardian

This is the notion that openness is a certain good, and that "free" is automatically aligned with "freedom" – a faith that's hard to maintain in the light of the consequences of putting so much of our identities into the hands of third (and fourth, and fifth) parties.

The Guardian - Opinion

Philadelphia got within 2-1 in the 36th minute with a goal by midfielder Vincent Nogueira, but the Revolution quickly responded after half-time as Nguyen scored his team-leading fifth goal.

The Guardian - Sport

Those from the richest fifth of neighbourhoods are still nine times more likely to go to the top universities than those from the poorest fifth, according to the Sutton Trust, a charity established to improve social mobility.

The Guardian

The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, has admitted that this week's wave of arrests and corruption allegations have "unleashed a storm" but improbably called for "unity and team spirit" as he appealed for a fifth term of office.

The Guardian - Sport

Hearts finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League, while Hibs finished second from bottom of the table, with relegated Dunfermline Athletic beneath them.

The Guardian - Sport

Tireless in his running, his confidence is sky high; he averages 3.2 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game, and he has won possession in the attacking third of the pitch 18 times this season, the fifth most in the Premier League.

The Guardian - Sport

This time last year they were challenging for promotion under Rösler (they eventually finished fifth) and were about to inflict FA Cup defeat on Manchester City for the second season in a row and give Arsenal a scare in the Wembley semi-final.

The Guardian - Sport

The First Division side, winners of the League Cup in 1994, appeared set to become the fifth Scottish Football League side to defeat the Dons in the past four seasons, but five minutes' added time proved to be the undoing of Raith, with the Dons' relentless pressure finally paying off when McDonald met a cross to force a replay.

The Guardian - Sport

They celebrated that achievement with the enthusiasm it deserved An important victory for Inter away to Parma, moving the Nerazzurri five points clear of Roberto Donadoni's team in fifth place.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about dates, abbreviate "fifth" as "5th". For instance, "July 5th".

Common error

Avoid using "fifth" as a plural when referring to multiple fractions. Instead of saying "three fifths", write "three-fifths" or "3/5".

Linguistic Context

The word "fifth" functions primarily as an ordinal adjective, indicating the position of something in a sequence (e.g., "the fifth day"). As Ludwig AI shows, it can also act as a noun, referring to one of five equal parts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

General Usage

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "fifth" is most commonly used as an ordinal adjective to denote the position following fourth in a sequence. As seen in various examples analyzed by Ludwig AI, "fifth" appears frequently in news and sports contexts. Grammatically, it is considered correct, and its frequency is very common. The analysis provides practical guidance on using "fifth" accurately, addressing common errors and suggesting alternative expressions. Understanding these nuances ensures effective communication in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

5th

A numerical abbreviation of the ordinal number.

One-fifth

Emphasizes the fractional aspect rather than the ordinal position.

A fifth of

Explicitly states the fraction of a whole.

Fifth part

Highlights that it is a portion of something.

Fifth in line

Highlights the ordinal position in a sequence.

Fifth element

Refers to the position within a series or collection.

Number five

Focuses on the numerical value instead of the ordinal ranking.

Rank five

Focuses on the ranking order.

Final fifth

Suggests the last one of five.

Next to fourth

Describes its position relative to another ordinal number.

FAQs

How is "fifth" typically abbreviated?

The standard abbreviation for "fifth" is "5th".

What is the difference between "fifth" and "one-fifth"?

"Fifth" is an ordinal number indicating position in a sequence, while "one-fifth" represents a fraction of a whole.

When should I use "fifth" versus "5th" in writing?

Use "5th" in informal contexts or when space is limited, such as in dates. Use "fifth" in formal writing where spelling out numbers is preferred.

Are there different ways to express "fifth" as a fraction?

Yes, you can express "fifth" as a fraction using "one-fifth", "1/5", or "20%".