fourth to last

USAGE SUMMARY

"fourth to last" is correct and is used in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is in the fourth-to-last position in a sequence. For example: After counting down from 10, the fourth to last number was 7.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Not even a stumble at the fourth to last could stop jockey Tom Scudamore from finishing six lengths ahead of The Cockney Mackem.

BBC

Those may be harder to come by, as the city's projected job growth rate over the next five years is fourth to last on our list.

Forbes

West Virginia, which was fourth to last, scored 52.2.

The Washington Post

PFF has Seattle ranked fourth to last, and its rushers have just 138 yards.

The Washington Post

So much for the notion that pitching and defense win: Boston is ranked third to last in the American League in fielding and fourth to last in pitching.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He placed second to last.

The New York Times - Sports

Second to last was Maj.

The New York Times

Gripping from first to last.

The Guardian - Film

Traditional Jewish themes preoccupied Bloom from first to last.

The New York Times - Arts

West Bromwich, which spent $21 million, was second to last.

The New York Times - Sports

It's been exceptional from first to last.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fourth to last" when precision is needed in indicating an item's position relative to the end of a defined sequence. Ensure the sequence is clear to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid confusing "fourth to last" with "fourth," which refers to the fourth item from the beginning, not the end. Always clarify the direction being counted from to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fourth to last" functions as an ordinal adjective modifying a noun by specifying its position in a sequence, counted from the end. As per Ludwig AI, this usage is deemed correct in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fourth to last" is a grammatically sound and reliably used expression to indicate an item's position relative to the end of a sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and useful construction in English. It finds application across various contexts, from news reporting to scientific analysis, though primarily featured in news and media outlets. When writing, be sure to maintain clarity about the direction of counting to prevent confusion. Remember that while "fourth to last" specifies a position from the end, "fourth" indicates a position from the beginning. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and effectively incorporate the phrase into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in fourth-to-last position

Nominalizes the phrase to describe a position.

the fourth from the end

Uses a prepositional phrase to specify position from the end.

the fourth nearest the end

Emphasizes proximity to the end of the sequence.

fourth from the tail

Uses "tail" as a metaphor for the end of a sequence.

the fourth concluding item

Replaces "last" with "concluding item" to emphasize finality.

penultimate plus two

Replaces numerical indicator with a descriptive reference to the "penultimate" position.

four places from the termination

Substitutes "last" with a more formal term, "termination."

the fourth to complete

Emphasizes the completion aspect relative to the end.

the antepenultimate plus one

Replaces numerical indicator with a descriptive reference to the "antepenultimate" position.

the fourth preceeding the ultimate

Replaces "last" with "the ultimate" to emphasize finality.

FAQs

What does "fourth to last" mean?

The phrase "fourth to last" indicates the item that is four positions away from the end of a sequence.

How do you use "fourth to last" in a sentence?

You can use "fourth to last" to specify the position of an item in a series counting from the end, such as, "The "fourth to last" question on the test was the most difficult."

What is a similar phrase to "fourth to last"?

A similar phrase is "the fourth from the end", which conveys the same meaning but uses a slightly different structure.

Is "fourth to last" formal or informal?

"Fourth to last" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.