fourth from the tail

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fourth from the tail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts such as describing positions or rankings, particularly in relation to a sequence or order. Example: "In the race, she finished fourth from the tail, indicating she was near the end of the pack."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Blood glucose was first measured from the tail vein, then the mice received an intraperitoneal injection of insulin (0.75 U/kg; Sigma-Aldrich) and blood glucose was measured again at time points of 20, 50 and 80 minutes after injection.

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

The environment committee backed changes, which would be limited to the end third of the tail, after hearing evidence from Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.

BBC

Even his work on the "High Society" soundtrack, with gorgeous decorations elevating the second-drawer songs from the tail end of Cole Porter's career, was far beyond what any trumpeter before Armstrong could have pulled off.

The New Yorker

Six of the remaining forcados grabbed the animal from all sides, and the seventh, known as "the tail," grabbed the bull's tail and was dragged through the ring as if waterskiing until it finally surrendered.

The New York Times

A second performance issue arises from the tail problem[25] - a well-known phenomenon in DG computing arising from the volatility of the underlying desktop PCs, which can seriously undermine the makespan (i.e. completion time) of a collection of submitted tasks.

Journal of Cloud Computing

We estimate that this technique enables us to access approximately one third of the pancreas from the tail side.

Plosone

A third of the country benefits from the tail winds of automation and the gig economy while the other two-thirds are sailing against head winds.

The Washington Post

First we will show four ion distributions from the tail, from the distant center of the tail to close to the planet.

Earth, Planets and Space

Parasitemia levels were determined by counting the number of parasites present in a 5  μL blood sample collected from the tail vein every third day.

BioMed Research International

On the fifth day (D4) a blood sample was collected from the tail snip of each mouse.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Tissue samples from the tail were collected within the first week after birth for DNA isolation.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fourth from the tail", ensure the context clearly defines what the 'tail' represents. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures your audience understands the position being described.

Common error

Avoid using "fourth from the tail" in contexts where 'tail' could be misinterpreted. If the sequence or object doesn't have a clear tail, choose a more precise term like 'end' or 'back' to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fourth from the tail" primarily functions as an ordinal specifier, indicating a specific position in a sequence relative to its end. Since there are no examples provided, there is no Ludwig context to analyze.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fourth from the tail" is a grammatically correct but rarely used ordinal specifier, indicating a position relative to the end of a sequence. Given the absence of examples, it is difficult to pinpoint specific contexts or authoritative sources where this phrase is common. However, it is suitable for situations where a clear 'tail' or endpoint is understood. For clarity, consider using more common alternatives such as "fourth from last" or "fourth from the end". The linguistic analysis suggests a neutral register, making it adaptable to different communication styles, though formal alternatives might be preferred in professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fourth from last

Directly indicates position relative to the end.

fourth from the back

Commonly used when describing positions in a line or queue.

fourth from the rear

A more formal way of saying "fourth from the back".

fourth nearest the end

Emphasizes proximity to the final position.

fourth closest to the end

Similar to 'nearest the end', but uses 'closest'.

fourth back from the finish

Specifically used in contexts involving a finish line.

fourth to last place

Highlights a lower ranking or finishing position.

fourth preceding the last

More formal and explicit about the order.

fourth in reverse order

Highlights the reversed sequencing.

penultimate fourth

A more technical and concise way to describe the position

FAQs

How can I use "fourth from the tail" in a sentence?

You can use "fourth from the tail" to describe a position relative to the end of a sequence. For instance, "The file labeled 'Report 7' was fourth from the tail in the list".

What's a simpler way to say "fourth from the tail"?

Alternatives include "fourth from last" or "fourth from the end", which are often more straightforward.

Is there a difference in meaning between "fourth from the tail" and "fourth from the end"?

While similar, "fourth from the tail" implies a more organic or naturally defined end, whereas "fourth from the end" is more generic and suitable for any sequence.

In what contexts is "fourth from the tail" most appropriate?

The phrase "fourth from the tail" is best suited when referring to a series where the 'tail' is a recognized or inherent endpoint, such as the tail of a queue, line, or list.