Incorrect spelling, explanation: you can’t spell fifteen as fiftheen because it doesn’t follow the standard rules of English spelling and word formation. People might mistakenly want to spell it as fiftheen because they associate it with the word fifth (the ordinal number for 5th). However, fifth and fifteen are used in different contexts (ordinal vs. cardinal numbers) and have different structures. The pronunciation of fifteen also supports the correct spelling.
Correct spelling, explanation: the word fifteen is the correct spelling for the number 15 in English. It comes from Old English fīftēne, which is a combination of fīf (meaning five) and tēne (related to ten). The pattern for numbers from 13 to 19 follows a structure in which a base number (three, four, five, etc.) is combined with teen, which originates from the Old English word for ten. Common errors like fiftheen arise from a misunderstanding of this structure, possibly because the word fifth (for the ordinal number) has an -h in it.
Definition of fifteen:
Number, the number 15
The meeting is scheduled to start at fifteen minutes past noon.
She celebrated her fifteenth birthday with a big party and all her friends.
Collocations with fifteen:
Some of the most commonly used collocations include:
1. Fifteen minutes: refers to a specific duration of time, often used to describe short intervals or deadlines.
The bus will arrive in fifteen minutes, so we need to hurry.
2. Fifteen years: used to describe a specific number of years, often in terms of age, experience, or time.
She has been teaching at the school for fifteen years.
3. Fifteen percent: common in discussions about percentages, such as discounts, interest rates, or statistics.
They offered a fifteen percent discount on all items during the sale.
4. Fifteen people: refers to a specific number of individuals, often in contexts like meetings, events, or groups.
Only fifteen people showed up for the lecture.
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