When writing numbers why is Forty the accepted way to write this number

General Chat Chat / Discussions
21

Plus (which is curiously spelled the same but pronounced differently, probably out of spite :wink::grimacing:), the way they write their 1’s. It’s enough to put the fear of god into anyone. :rofl::rofl:

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22

Hi, how are you doing?

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23

Alright, U?, see your in Texas too, there are a few other that stop by every once in a while.

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24

I don’t think any one person made the rules for standardising the spellings of words.
It just evolved over time, due to usage and phonetic variants, but when printing presses took over from handwritten books and people started publishing dictionaries, it played a large part in standardising words which used to have many variants of spellings.

The word “forty” has had more than a dozen spelling variations over the centuries, so standardising the spelling has done us all a favour - forty is a lot quicker to write than the original word fēowertig !

Edited:
After posting, I started wondering where the word “dozen” came from , so had a Google - used to be “duodecim” (Latin - two-ten”) or “dozaine” (Norman French for group of twelve) and twelve used to be “twalef” (Old English Germanic meaning “two left” after finger-counting the base of ten, there was two left over)
:nerd_face:

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25

Thought I’d have a look for other ways that the number 40 has been and is written over the ages and across the planet. Didn’t really get too far with it, but did come across this, which I’d love to get a hold of


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26

That’s brilliant Dex, I had no idea how important the number 40 was

I just can’t wait to see what mystery it will contain when somebody posts the fortieth post on this thread

:thinking:
Just 14 to go
 :open_mouth:

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27

Hi Mr. ROBIN! I’m doing pretty well. I hope you’re doing pretty well too. One of the user here asked me what i loved most about Texas
there are great cities in Texas, and Texas people are friendly. Haha

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28

Why is a Flute player called a Flautist and not a Flutist?

29

Dunno, but its better than being Saxist :icon_wink:

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30

Or if you are a fan of F1
A ‘racist’
 :017:

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31

If a Pipe player is a Piper, why isn’t a Flute player called a Fluter? Or a Piper called a Pipist?

Then there’s
Fiddlers and Violinists ,
Drummers and Percussionists. :thinking:

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32

Thinking of Fiddlers and Drummers has just reminded me of something that has puzzled me since childhood.

Not last night, but the night before,
Three Tom Cats came knocking on my door,
One with a Fiddle, one with a Drum
And one with a Pancake stuck to his bum 


I often wondered, as a child and I’ve pondered ever since -
Why would a Tom cat have a Pancake stuck to his bum?

Over the years, I have discovered there’s many variations of this rhyme in different regions - sometimes it’s 3 pigs or 3 witches, sometimes they have different instruments, but the common theme is that they all end with one of them having a Pancake stuck to their bum.

What does it mean? :thinking:

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33

Here are some good examples of the English language

https://youtube.com/shorts/Gt4AUp6B7VY?si=07psNo-9khYHUXg8

https://youtube.com/shorts/Qxohw-X4wDM?si=NbbHhVUUXOOauSNI

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34

I found those really funny. So true! :grin:

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35

I have no idea what it really means, interesting though! :thinking:
If I do happen to chance upon a moggie with a pancake stuck to it’s bum I’ll be sure to ask!
Wouldn’t hold your breath Boot


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