“Eighth” is the correct spelling, while “eigth” is a common misspelling that people often type by mistake.
The word “eighth” comes from “eight” with the suffix “-th” added to show order or position. The “h” before the final “th” is easy to forget, which is why so many people write “eigth.” Spell checkers usually flag the wrong version right away.
For example, you might say “the eighth day of the month” or “an eighth of a cup.” In both cases, the word shows either a position in a list or a fraction. As a result, you will see the correct spelling in school writing, recipes, dates, and everyday messages.
A simple trick can help you remember it: “eighth” has “eight” in it, plus “th” at the end. Therefore, if you can spell “eight,” you only need to add “th.” This makes the correct form much easier to recall.
In this guide, you will learn why “eighth” is correct, why “eigth” is wrong, and how to use the word in a sentence. You will also find examples, similar commonly misspelled words, and answers to frequently asked questions to help you spell it with confidence.
Featured Snippet: Eighth or Eigth?
Eighth is the correct spelling. It is the ordinal form of eight and describes the position of something in a sequence. Eigth is a misspelling. For example, write “She finished in eighth place,” not “She finished in eigth place.” The correct spelling is the same in British and American English.
Eighth or Eigth: Quick Answer
The correct spelling is eighth, with the letters g-h-t-h at the end.
- Correct: Today is the eighth of October.
- Correct: He lives on the eighth floor.
- Incorrect: She came in eigth place.
Remember that eighth comes from eight. Keep the original spelling and add h at the end.
What Does Eighth Mean?
Eighth is an ordinal number. It describes the position of something that comes after the seventh item and before the ninth item in a sequence.
In simple English, eighth means number eight in order.
Definition of Eighth
The word eighth can refer to a position, date, rank, or one of eight equal parts.
Examples include:
- Position: My name is eighth on the list.
- Date: Her birthday is on the eighth of May.
- Rank: Our team finished in eighth place.
- Fraction: One eighth of the cake was left.
Eighth as an Ordinal Number
English uses two main types of number words.
- Cardinal numbers tell us how many things there are: one, two, three, eight.
- Ordinal numbers tell us the order or position of things: first, second, third, eighth.
For example, “There are eight students in the room” tells us the number of students. “She is the eighth student to arrive” tells us her position in the order of arrival.
How to Use Eighth in a Sentence
Use eighth when talking about an order, a date, a floor, a competition result, or a fraction.
Examples:
- My younger brother is in eighth grade.
- The meeting will take place on the eighth of November.
- She won eighth place in the competition.
- We live in the eighth house on this street.
- He ate one eighth of the chocolate bar.
Notice that the spelling stays the same in every example.
The Origin of Eighth
The word eighth developed from the number eight, which has a long history in English and other Germanic languages. Its older forms can be traced through Old English and related historical forms.
The ordinal ending -th is used in many English number words. Examples include fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth.
The spelling of eighth can seem unusual because the final letters of eight already include h and t. When the ordinal ending is added, the result is eighth, not eigth.
The spelling eigth usually appears when someone places the letters in the wrong order or accidentally leaves out the final h. It is not the standard spelling of the ordinal number in modern English.
British English vs American English
There is no British-American spelling difference for eighth. Both varieties use the same spelling.
| British English | American English | Example |
| Eighth | Eighth | She finished eighth in the race. |
| Eighth floor | Eighth floor | His office is on the eighth floor. |
| Eighth of June | Eighth of June | The event begins on the eighth of June. |
| Eighth grade | Eighth grade | The student is in eighth grade. |
Regional Differences
British and American English use eighth in the same way. The main differences may relate to date formatting, school terminology, or the way dates are spoken and written.
For example, a British writer may write “8 June,” while an American writer may write “June 8.” The word eighth itself does not change.
Style Guides and Publishing Preferences
Most standard dictionaries and English style guides use eighth. Writers should use this spelling in books, articles, academic papers, business documents, and online content.
When writing dates, follow the format preferred by your school, workplace, publisher, or target audience. However, never change eighth to eigth to match a regional spelling style.
Which Version Should You Use?
Use eighth in every major variety of standard English. There is no need to choose between different national spellings.
| Region or context | Correct form | Example |
| United States | Eighth | My appointment is on August eighth. |
| United Kingdom | Eighth | The results will be announced on the eighth of August. |
| Canada | Eighth | The event takes place on the eighth of August. |
| Australia | Eighth | The school term begins on the eighth of February. |
| International writing | Eighth | The eighth chapter explains the main idea. |
| Academic writing | Eighth | The eighth participant completed the test. |
| Business writing | Eighth | The eighth meeting is scheduled for Friday. |
For Students
Use eighth in homework, exams, essays, and classroom assignments. Check the spelling carefully, especially when writing ordinal numbers.
For Business Writers
Use eighth in reports, schedules, meeting notes, and formal emails. A spelling mistake in a date or numbered sequence can confuse readers.
For Academic Writers
Use eighth when describing the order of sections, participants, stages, or results. For example, “The eighth section discusses the limitations of the study.”
Common Mistakes
The most common error is writing eigth instead of eighth. The mistake usually happens when writers remember the letters of eight but place the final letters in the wrong order.
| Incorrect example | Correct example | Explanation |
| Today is the eigth of May. | Today is the eighth of May. | The correct spelling ends in hth. |
| She finished eigth in the race. | She finished eighth in the race. | Ordinal numbers require the standard spelling. |
| Read the eigth chapter. | Read the eighth chapter. | The final h must appear after the t. |
| He lives on the eigth floor. | He lives on the eighth floor. | The spelling does not change before a noun. |
Why Do People Misspell Eighth?
The word eight already ends with ht. When adding the ordinal ending, some writers rearrange the letters or forget the final h.
Typing quickly can also cause the mistake. Since eigth looks close to the correct word, it may go unnoticed during proofreading.
Memory Tip
Use this simple rule:
Eight + h = eighth.
Start with the correct spelling of eight, then add another h at the end.
You can also remember the final letters as G-H-T-H.
- Eight: E-I-G-H-T
- Eighth: E-I-G-H-T-H
This method helps you remember both the letter order and the extra h.
Everyday Examples of Eighth
The word eighth appears in many types of writing. These examples show how to use it correctly.
1. Emails
“Please send me the final report by the eighth of November.”
This sentence gives a clear deadline.
2. Business Writing
“The eighth meeting of the committee will focus on the annual budget.”
Here, eighth identifies a meeting in a series.
3. News Headlines
“Local Runner Finishes Eighth in National Competition”
The word describes the athlete’s position in the competition.
4. Blogs
“Here are the eighth and ninth steps in our guide to better writing.”
This example uses ordinal numbers to organize information.
5. Social Media
“Today marks the eighth anniversary of our first project!”
The word describes how many years have passed in an anniversary sequence.
6. Academic Writing
“The eighth participant reported a different result from the other participants.”
This sentence identifies a participant by order.
7. Daily Conversation
“My birthday is on the eighth.”
The word identifies the day of the month. The month may be clear from the conversation.
8. Mathematics
“One eighth of 80 is 10.”
In mathematics, one eighth means one of eight equal parts. It can also be written as the fraction 1/81/8.
Google Trends and Modern Usage
People search for eighth or eigth because the spelling is easy to mix up. The word contains a cluster of consonants near the end, and writers may accidentally put the letters in the wrong order.
The correct spelling remains eighth in modern English. It is used in dates, rankings, school grades, addresses, mathematical fractions, and ordered lists.
Without checking Google Trends for a specific time range and region, it would not be accurate to claim exact search volumes or say which country searches for this spelling question the most.
The general reason for the confusion is clear: eigth looks similar to eight and eighth, but it is not the standard spelling of the ordinal number. Spell-check tools can help, but learning the letter pattern is more useful in the long run.
Quick Comparison:
| Version | Meaning | Correct? | Region | Example |
| Eighth | Position after seventh | Yes | Worldwide | She came eighth. |
| Eigth | Intended as a misspelling of eighth | No | Not a standard regional variant | Write “eighth place.” |
| Eight | The number 8 | Yes | Worldwide | I have eight books. |
| Eighty | The number 80 | Yes | Worldwide | The room holds eighty people. |
Key Takeaways
- Eighth is the correct spelling.
- Eigth is a common spelling mistake.
- Eighth is the ordinal form of eight.
- Use eighth for dates, rankings, floors, grades, and ordered lists.
- British and American English use the same spelling.
- The correct ending is G-H-T-H.
- In fractions, one eighth means one of eight equal parts.
- Proofreading can help you catch spelling errors before publishing.
FAQs
Q1: Is eighth spelled correctly?
Yes, “eighth” is the correct spelling, written e-i-g-h-t-h. The version “eigth” is a very common typo because the first “h” is easy to skip, and standard dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary list only “eighth.” In both American and British English, the spelling stays the same. If your spell checker underlines “eigth,” it is right to do so.
Q2: How do you spell 8th correctly?
The short form is “8th,” with the number 8 followed by lowercase “th.” When you write it in full words, use “eighth,” as in “the eighth of June.” Style guides usually suggest spelling out ordinals in formal writing and using “8th” in dates, lists, and quick notes. Whichever form you choose, keep it consistent within the same document.
Q3: What does “eighth” mean?
“Eighth” is an ordinal number that describes the position after seventh and before ninth, such as the eighth floor or the eighth grade. It can also be used as a noun for one of eight equal parts of something. For example, “an eighth of a cup” in a recipe means 1/8 of that cup. The context tells you if it describes order or a fraction.
Q4: What is an eighth?
An eighth is one part of something divided into eight equal pieces, written as 1/8 or 0.125. You will see it in cooking, math, and measurements, such as an eighth of a pizza or an eighth of an inch. In music, an “eighth note” lasts half as long as a quarter note, and British English calls it a quaver. Thinking of it as one slice out of eight makes the idea easy to remember.
Q5: What is another word for “eighth”?
“Eighth” has no single perfect synonym, but you can use phrases that fit the meaning. For position, try “number eight in the sequence” or the written short form “8th.” For a fraction, “one-eighth” or “1/8” works well, and in music, an “eighth note” is called a “quaver” in British English. Choose the option that matches how you are using the word, so your sentence stays clear.
Conclusion
When choosing between eighth and eigth, always use eighth. It is the standard spelling of the ordinal number that comes after seventh. The spelling is the same in British, American, Canadian, Australian, and international English.
You can use eighth when talking about dates, competition rankings, school grades, floors, steps, or fractions. For example, “She finished eighth” identifies a position, while “one eighth of the cake” describes one of eight equal parts.
The main reason people make this mistake is the unusual sequence of letters at the end of the word. The easiest way to avoid it is to start with eight and add another h. Remember the final letters: G-H-T-H.
Before submitting an assignment, sending a formal email, or publishing an article, take a moment to check the spelling. Small details like this make your writing clearer and more professional.
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My name is James Whitemore, and I am a UK-based English language writer specializing in grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and writing skills. At Grammer Vivo, I make complex English concepts easy to understand through clear explanations and practical examples, with a focus on both British and American English usage.
