Have you ever typed 23th and then stopped to wonder whether it actually looks right? You’re not alone. The correct form is 23rd, not 23th, and the reason comes down to how English forms ordinal numbers.
When you’re writing a date, birthday, anniversary, school year, ranking, or position, choosing the right ordinal ending matters. In this guide, we’ll explain 23rd or 23th, show why 23rd is correct, and give you simple examples so you can use it confidently.
23rd or 23th: Which One Is Correct?
The correct form is:
23rd
The incorrect form is:
23th
The number 23 is pronounced twenty-three, while its ordinal form is twenty-third.
Therefore:
23 = twenty-three
23rd = twenty-third
The rd ending comes from the word third.
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Form | Correct? | Word Form |
| 23rd | Yes | Twenty-third |
| 23th | No | Not standard English |
So, when you’re deciding between 23rd or 23th, always choose 23rd.
Why Is It 23rd Instead of 23th?
The answer becomes clearer when you look at the final word in the ordinal number.
The number 23 is:
twenty-three
Its ordinal form is:
twenty-third
Since third ends in rd when abbreviated as a numeral, 23 becomes:
23rd
This follows the same pattern as:
- 1st = first
- 2nd = second
- 3rd = third
- 21st = twenty-first
- 22nd = twenty-second
- 23rd = twenty-third
- 24th = twenty-fourth
So although 23 ends in the digit 3, it isn’t simply an arbitrary spelling rule. The ending reflects the ordinal word third.
23rd or 23th in Dates
One of the most common reasons people search for 23rd or 23th is when writing dates.
If you’re using an ordinal form, the correct expression is:
July 23rd
Not:
July 23th
Other examples include:
- January 23rd
- February 23rd
- March 23rd
- April 23rd
- August 23rd
- December 23rd
You can also write the date as:
the 23rd of July
Both forms use 23rd.
Is the ordinal suffix always needed in dates?
No. In many formal styles, dates are simply written as:
July 23
rather than:
July 23rd
Both conventions can be correct depending on the style being followed. However, if you choose to use an ordinal suffix, 23rd is the correct form.
23rd or 23th Birthday
When talking about someone’s twenty-third birthday, use 23rd.
For example:
Happy 23rd birthday!
She is celebrating her 23rd birthday this weekend.
His 23rd birthday was unforgettable.
The form 23th birthday is incorrect.
The reason is that you’re saying:
twenty-third birthday
not:
twenty-th birthday
This is an easy way to remember the correct ending.
23rd or 23th Anniversary
The same rule applies to anniversaries.
Correct examples include:
Today is our 23rd anniversary.
The company celebrated its 23rd anniversary.
They are preparing for their 23rd wedding anniversary.
Incorrect:
Today is our 23th anniversary.
Whenever 23 represents an ordinal position, use 23rd.
23rd or 23th in Rankings
Ordinal numbers are used whenever you’re describing a position in a sequence.
For example:
She finished 23rd in the race.
The company ranked 23rd in the national survey.
He came in 23rd place.
The team is currently 23rd in the standings.
In each example, 23rd indicates position or order.
You would not write:
He finished 23th.
Understanding Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
The difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers helps explain why 23rd is correct.
Cardinal number: 23
A cardinal number tells you how many.
There are 23 students in the classroom.
Here, 23 describes a quantity.
Ordinal number: 23rd
An ordinal number tells you where something falls in a sequence.
She is the 23rd student in line.
Here, 23rd describes position.
A simple rule is:
23 = quantity
23rd = position
The Ordinal Pattern Around 23
Looking at the numbers surrounding 23 makes the pattern easier to remember.
| Number | Ordinal | Correct Short Form |
| 20 | twentieth | 20th |
| 21 | twenty-first | 21st |
| 22 | twenty-second | 22nd |
| 23 | twenty-third | 23rd |
| 24 | twenty-fourth | 24th |
| 25 | twenty-fifth | 25th |
The important part is:
21st → 22nd → 23rd → 24th
So 23 follows the rd pattern.
A Simple Rule for Ordinal Number Endings
For most numbers, ordinal suffixes follow a predictable pattern:
- Numbers ending in 1 → st
- Numbers ending in 2 → nd
- Numbers ending in 3 → rd
- Other numbers → th
For example:
- 31st
- 32nd
- 33rd
- 34th
However, there is an important exception for numbers ending in 11, 12, and 13:
- 11th
- 12th
- 13th
So while 23rd is correct, you would write 13th, not 13rd.
The rule is based on the final two digits when dealing with numbers such as 111, 112, and 113.
23rd in a Sentence
Seeing 23rd in context can make the correct form easier to remember.
Correct examples
The meeting is scheduled for the 23rd.
She finished 23rd in the competition.
This is my 23rd visit to the city.
He celebrated his 23rd birthday last week.
The store opened its 23rd location.
They are celebrating their 23rd anniversary.
Incorrect examples
The meeting is scheduled for the 23th.
She finished 23th in the competition.
This is my 23th visit.
He celebrated his 23th birthday.
The standard form is always 23rd when 23 is being used as an ordinal number.
How to Remember 23rd or 23th
Here’s an easy memory trick:
23 = twenty-three
23rd = twenty-third
Think about the word third.
The ordinal forms are:
first → 1st
second → 2nd
third → 3rd
Since 23 ends in 3 and its ordinal word ends with third, the short form is:
23rd
You can also remember the sequence:
21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
Once you know this sequence, it’s much harder to accidentally write 23th.
Common Mistakes With 23rd
Mistake 1: Writing 23th
This is the most common error.
Incorrect: 23th
Correct: 23rd
Mistake 2: Assuming every number uses “th”
Many ordinal numbers do use th, such as 10th, 14th, and 25th. But numbers ending in 1, 2, and 3 generally use st, nd, and rd, respectively.
Mistake 3: Confusing 23 with 23rd
Remember that 23 and 23rd have different grammatical functions.
I have 23 books.
This is my 23rd book.
The first gives a quantity; the second gives an order.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the 11–13 exception
The final-digit rule doesn’t work normally for 11, 12, and 13.
For example:
21st
22nd
23rd
but:
11th
12th
13th
This exception is worth memorizing.
Is 23rd Used in Formal Writing?
Yes. 23rd is standard English and can be used in formal, academic, business, and everyday writing.
For example:
The conference will take place on the 23rd of September.
In some formal style systems, dates may be written without ordinal suffixes:
September 23
The choice depends on the publication or style guide, but 23th is not the standard alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it 23rd or 23th?
23rd is correct. 23th is incorrect in standard English.
Why is 23rd correct?
The ordinal form of 23 is twenty-third. Because the word third is represented by rd in the abbreviated numeral, the correct form is 23rd.
Is 23rd correct for a birthday?
Yes. Write 23rd birthday, not 23th birthday.
For example:
Happy 23rd birthday!
Is 23rd correct for a date?
Yes. If you use an ordinal suffix with a date, 23rd is correct.
For example:
The event is on August 23rd.
What is the word form of 23rd?
The word form is:
twenty-third
Is 23th ever correct?
No. 23th is not the standard English ordinal form of 23. The correct form is 23rd.
What comes before 23rd?
The sequence is:
21st → 22nd → 23rd → 24th
What comes after 23rd?
The next ordinal number is:
24th
So the sequence is:
22nd → 23rd → 24th
Is it 23rd place or 23th place?
The correct expression is 23rd place.
For example:
He finished in 23rd place.
Is it 23rd anniversary or 23th anniversary?
The correct form is 23rd anniversary.
Is 23 a cardinal or ordinal number?
23 is a cardinal number when it expresses quantity. 23rd is an ordinal number when it expresses position or sequence.
Conclusion: 23rd or 23th?
When choosing between 23rd or 23th, the correct answer is clear: 23rd.
The number 23 becomes twenty-third when used as an ordinal number, which is why its abbreviated form ends in rd. Whether you’re writing a 23rd birthday, a date, an anniversary, a ranking, or a position, 23rd is the form to use.
The easiest way to remember it is to keep this sequence in mind:
21st → 22nd → 23rd → 24th
So the next time you wonder 23th or 23rd, choose 23rd with confidence.
