nd

What is the opposite of nd? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Suffix — The two letters added to a numeral ending in 2 to write its ordinal form: 2nd, 22nd, 102nd. Numbers ending in 12 are the exception and take -th instead: 12th, 112th, 212th.

We haven't recorded synonyms for nd yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use nd

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

2nd place the 22nd of the month (Author, n.d.)

The ordinal use is universal in all registers. The "no date" use is written n.d. with full stops and belongs to academic referencing.

Etymology

The last two letters of the word second, written after the numeral.

Full origin of nd →

Frequently asked questions

Why is it 2nd but 12th?

The suffix copies the last two letters of how the number is spoken. Two is "second", so it takes -nd, but twelve is "twelfth", so it takes -th. The test is the last two digits, not the last one — so 22nd and 102nd, but 12th, 112th and 212th.

What does n.d. mean in a citation?

It stands for "no date" and is used when a source shows no year of publication, as often happens with web pages. It goes where the year would normally sit, for example (Jones, n.d.).

Should ordinal suffixes be superscript?

Both 2nd and 2ⁿᵈ are accepted, but most modern style guides, including AP and Chicago, prefer the plain form on the line. Word processors often superscript it automatically, which you can switch off.

Nearby words

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