ordinalstyle

Ordinalstyle refers to the conventions used to present ordinal numbers in written text. It covers both the lexical form of ordinals (such as “first,” “second,” “third”) and the typographic treatment of the ordinal indicator or suffix (for example, numerals with suffixes like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or formatted variations such as superscripts). The aim of ordinalstyle is to convey order clearly while adhering to a language’s norms and a publication’s guidelines.

Usage of ordinalstyle varies by language and style guide. In English, writers may choose between numerals with ordinal suffixes (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and spelled-out ordinals (first, second, third). Some contexts favor one form for readability or formality, while others rely on automated formatting in word processors. In other languages, ordinals can be indicated using different mechanisms, such as a trailing marker, a period, a superscript, or separate words, reflecting language-specific conventions.

Typographic implementation includes decisions about how the suffix is formatted—whether it appears at baseline or as a superscript, whether small caps or capitalization rules are applied, and how spacing interacts with adjacent text. Digital typesetting and word-processing systems may offer automatic ordinal styling options or require manual markup. Consistent ordinalstyle helps reduce ambiguity in lists, headings, technical or legal texts, and multilingual documents.

See also: ordinals, typography, style guides, in typography and publishing, and typesetting.