thirty

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'thirty' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the number that comes after twenty-nine or when describing something that is approximately 30 years old or longer. Example Sentence: I will be turning thirty in December.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

THIRTY billion dollars is a lot of money for anyone except America's government.

The Economist

THIRTY polling stations in Toronto, Montreal and five other cities helped French expatriates in Canada vote in their country's presidential elections in April and May.

The Economist

Thirty years later, United's merchandise department would turn in a tidy profit selling T-shirts emblazoned with the words: '66 was a great year for English football.

The Guardian - Sport

Most Australians don't know – or don't want to know – about the extent of the violence that accompanied European colonial settlement and that is still synonymous for black Australia with Australia Day. Thirty years after Arthur Phillip sailed into Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788, it was left to Macquarie to celebrate this special anniversary for British colonialism.

The Guardian

I remember the raw pain and how he twisted it, left, right, left, right, left, right… Thirty years later, here I am again.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

An anonymous caller phoned the public broadcaster while the first episode of The Thirty Cases of Major Zeman was being shown on Thursday to warn it that it would be bombed unless the reruns were discontinued.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

There were shots to all corners, three of Gilchrist 's four maximums ensuring that Panesar's thirty-fourth over was his last.

The Guardian - Sport

Thirty-nine-year-old Carlyle's latest endeavour is There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, a gentle urban fable charting the journey of a lonely Manchester City fan from playground punchbag for the rival Reds to schools' cup final hero.

The Guardian - Film

Thirty-two yeago ago.

The New Yorker

Thirty-three yeafterfter he left the Mossad, Israel's external intelligence arm, one memory sometimes wakes Yossi Alpher at four in the morning.

The Guardian

Thirty-two yeafterfter Yannick Noah's triumph, the Swiss held his nerve to deny Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a gruelling duel fought out in sweltering conditions and his 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory puts him into the French Open final for the first time.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For formal writing, always spell out "thirty" unless it is used within a chart, graph, or table. In technical contexts, the numeral '30' is generally preferred.

Common error

Avoid using "thirty" interchangeably with ordinal forms like "thirtieth" without considering the intended context. "Thirty" refers to the quantity, while "thirtieth" refers to the position in a sequence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "thirty" is as a cardinal numeral. It quantifies nouns and represents the numerical value between twenty-nine and thirty-one, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "thirty" functions primarily as a cardinal numeral, indicating the quantity between twenty-nine and thirty-one. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts. Its usage spans from news and media to formal business and science, showcasing a neutral register. For alternatives, consider "three decades" or "30" depending on the context. The most authoritative sources frequently employing "thirty" include The Guardian and The Economist. To ensure clarity, always use "thirty" to denote quantity and "thirtieth" for ordinal positions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

30

Numerical representation of "thirty".

30 years

Specifies the unit of "thirty" as years.

three decades

Emphasizes a period of 30 years.

approximately thirty

Formally indicates an approximate value near "thirty".

around thirty

Indicates an approximate value near "thirty".

close to thirty

Indicates a value that is nearly "thirty".

a score and ten

An archaic way to say "thirty".

thrice ten

A more formal or mathematical way to express "thirty".

in one's thirties

Refers to the age range between 30 and 39.

three tens

Breaks down "thirty" into its components.

FAQs

How do I use "thirty" in a sentence?

Use "thirty" as a numeral to denote the number after twenty-nine. For example, "There are thirty students in the class."

Which is correct, "thirty" or "thirtieth"?

"Thirty" is a cardinal number (e.g., "thirty days"), while "thirtieth" is an ordinal number (e.g., "the thirtieth day"). Use the appropriate form depending on whether you are indicating a quantity or a position in a sequence.

What can I say instead of "thirty years"?

You can use alternatives like "three decades" or "a generation", depending on the context.

Is it ever acceptable to use "30" instead of "thirty" in writing?

Yes, "30" is acceptable, especially in contexts like charts, tables, technical writing, or when space is limited. In formal writing, it's generally better to spell out numbers up to one hundred, including "thirty".