1St

1st is the common written form of the ordinal indicator for the number one, used to denote position or order. It is typically written with the numeral and the suffix -st, as in 1st, and is often spoken as “first.” The ordinary word form is first.

Usage and contexts

The 1st is used in a variety of contexts to indicate ranking or sequence. In dates, for example, one might say the 1st of January. In lists or instructions, items are numbered 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. In competitions and rankings, a participant or team may finish in 1st place. The phrase appears in versions or editions, such as the 1st edition of a book or the 1st draft of a document. In law and governance, ordinal forms are common, as in the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or a 1st session of a legislative body.

Notation and spelling

The ordinal suffix system in English generally uses -st for numbers ending in 1 (with the exceptions 11, 12, and 13, which take -th as in 11th, 12th, 13th). Thus 21st, 31st also appear in writing, while 11th, 12th, and 13th follow the regular -th pattern. When written fully as a word, the ordinal is first. The numeral form 1st is widely used in legal, mathematical, and practical contexts, while first is common in prose.

Etymology and notes

The word first derives from Old English fyrst, meaning foremost; the modern form reflects historical development of the ordinal. The combination of a numeral with the -st suffix is a standard convention in English for denoting the first position.