Well, let’s talk about this “12nd” thing, or whatever they call it. I ain’t no scholar, ya know, just an old woman who’s seen a thing or two. But even I know that ain’t right. It’s like putting your shoes on the wrong feet – just don’t fit.
You see, when you’re countin’ things, like apples or chickens, you say one, two, three, and so on. But when you’re talkin’ about the order of things, like who came first, second, or third in a race, that’s different. It ain’t just about the number, it’s about where it sits in line.
Now, for most numbers, you just stick a “th” at the end to make it “orderly,” you know? Like four becomes fourth, five becomes fifth, and so on. It’s simple enough, even for an old brain like mine.
- First
- Second
- Third
- Fourth
- Fifth
- Sixth
- Seventh
- Eighth
- Ninth
- Tenth
- Eleventh
- Twelfth
But then you got those tricky ones, the first few. One ain’t “oneth,” it’s first. Two ain’t “twoth,” it’s second. And three ain’t “threeth,” it’s third. They got their own special names, I guess they’re too important to follow the rules.
So, where does that leave this “12nd”? Nowhere good, that’s where. Twelve is a regular number, not one of them fancy first few. It should play by the rules, just like the rest of ’em. You don’t go around sayin’ “fiveth” or “nineth,” do ya? Sounds plumb silly.
The right way, the way everyone understands, is twelfth. It’s got that “th” sound at the end, just like it’s supposed to. It fits in, it makes sense. It ain’t tryin’ to be special or different, it’s just doin’ its job.
I reckon some folks try to get too clever, try to make up their own rules. But language ain’t about bein’ clever, it’s about bein’ clear. It’s about makin’ sure everyone understands what you’re sayin’. And “12nd” just don’t cut it. It ain’t proper English, plain and simple.
Think about it like this: You wouldn’t say “I have 12rd apples,” would you? Nah, you’d say “I have twelve apples.” The same goes for when you’re talkin’ about order. You wouldn’t say someone came in “12nd place,” you’d say they came in twelfth place. It’s all about using the right word for the right situation, like knowing when to plant your corn or when to harvest your tomatoes.
So, if you want to sound right, if you want people to understand you, stick to twelfth. Don’t go messin’ around with “12nd” or any other made-up nonsense. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways, and sometimes simple is better.
And if you’re still confused, just remember this: it’s first, second, third, and then it’s all “th” after that. Fourth, fifth, sixth…all the way up to twelfth and beyond. It ain’t rocket science, it’s just good sense.
Now, I gotta go feed the chickens. But you remember what I told ya, alright? Use twelfth, not “12nd.” It’ll make your talkin’ a whole lot smoother, and folks will appreciate it. And that, my friend, is the truth, as sure as the sun rises in the east.
Keywords: 12th, twelfth, ordinal numbers, numbers, correct form, grammar, English, order, ranking, speaking, writing, communication.
