‘10th Anniversary’ vs ‘10nd Anniversary’: Which is Correct?

If you are unsure which is correct between '10th anniversary' vs. '10nd anniversary,' this guide will help!

Here is the short version, in case you are in a rush: 

•  '10th anniversary' is the correct spelling of this term because the proper ordinal for 10 is tenth or 10th. 
• You should never use '10nd anniversary' because the phrase contains a grammatical error.  

Now, you know that '10th anniversary' is correct. If you want to learn why, keep reading!

Which is Correct, '10th Anniversary' or '10nd Anniversary?'

'10th Anniversary' is always correct, and '10nd Anniversary' is always a grammatical error. The reason the first phrase is correct is that it contains the ordinal tenth, and the correct numeric abbreviation of the tenth is '10th.'

When you are abbreviating ordinals, you always use the number followed by the suffix used to create the word.

Here are a few examples of other ordinal abbreviations:

• First - 1st
• Second - 2nd
• Third - 3rd
• Fourth - 4th
• Fifth - 5th
• Sixth - 6th
• Seventh - 7th
• Eighth - 8th
• Nineth - 9th
• Tenth - 10th

Definition of '10th Anniversary': What Does '10th Anniversary' Mean?

To define '10th anniversary', we are going to look at the definitions of '10th' and 'anniversary'.

Definition of '10th' or 'Tenth'

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the 'tenth' is a noun that means:

• Number ten in a series
• One of ten equal parts of an object

'Tenth' can also be an adjective and adverb used to describe a noun or a verb.

'10th' is a numeric abbreviation of 'tenth.' So, they have the same meaning.

Definition of 'Anniversary'

The same dictionary defines 'anniversary' as a noun that means:

• The annual recurrence of the date of a notable event
• A date, other than a year, preceding an event (ex: 6-month anniversary)
• A party or event celebrating an anniversary

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce '10th Anniversary'

Pronouncing ordinal phrases can be challenging, especially if you are learning English as a second language, because the pronunciation of ordinals is slightly different than its numeric value.

So, here is a guide to help you pronounce '10th anniversary' and other ordinals.

• Use this phonetic spelling to pronounce '10th anniversary':

ten(t)th  an-ni-ver-sa-rē

Pronunciation of other common ordinals:

• First - furst
• Second - se-kund
• Third - thurd
• Fourth - forth
• Fifth - fith
• Sixth - siks(t)th
• Seventh - se-vun(t)th
• Eighth - ātth
• Ninth - nīn(t)th
• Tenth - ten(t)th

When and How to Use '10th Anniversary'

People celebrate many different types of anniversaries. For example, people celebrate anniversaries of employment, marriage, historical events, deaths, and friendships.

So, here are some tips for when and how to use '1oth anniversary':

• Use '10th anniversary' to wish someone a happy 10th wedding anniversary.

For example, you could say something like:

Happy 10th Anniversary! I can't believe you and Trevor have already been married for a decade. I hope you two have an amazing trip and a fantastic year. 

• Use '10th anniversary' to acknowledge that someone has been employed at a company for 10 years.

As an example, you can say:

Happy 10th Anniversary to the hardest-working employee in our office!!!

• Use '10th anniversary' to recognize a memorable event.

So, you could write:

This is the 10th anniversary of our friendship! I am so blessed to have had you in my life.

• Use '10th anniversary' when you are speaking about someone's death.

As an example, you could say:

It's the 10th anniversary of my mother's death, but it never gets easier. 

Things to Know About '10th Anniversaries'

Did you know that there are specific gifts that are customary to give on each wedding anniversary?

For the '10th anniversary' the traditional gift is tin or aluminum, and the modern gift is diamonds.

Here are the customary gifts for other wedding anniversaries:

• 1st Anniversary - Paper (Traditional) / Clock (Modern)
• 2nd Anniversary - Cotton/China
• 3rd Anniversary - Leather/Crystal
• 4th Anniversary - Flowers and Fruit
• 5th Anniversary - Wood/Silverware
• 6th Anniversary - Sugar
• 7th Anniversary - Copper
• 8th Anniversary - Bronze
• 9th Anniversary - Willow/Pottery
• 10th Anniversary - Tin or Aluminum/Diamonds

Sample Sentences Using '10th Anniversary'

Before you go, take a look at these sample sentences.

10th Anniversary

• Where do you want to celebrate our 10th Anniversary? Would you like to go on a vacation?
• Can you believe that we are already celebrating our 10th anniversary? It seems like we just got married yesterday.
• Our company rewards you with a dedicated parking spot after your 10th anniversary.
• You are welcome to join us this evening. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary.
• Are you buying a paper gift or a clock to give them for their 10th anniversary?
• Sadly, more than 1/3 of married couples will not last till their 10th anniversary.
• If you are celebrating your 10th anniversary, you should do something special for your spouse to show them you love them.
• We are planning to renew our wedding vows and have the dream wedding we always wanted on our 10th anniversary.

Other Ordinal Phrases

• Have you sent the invitations for your daughter's 5th birthday party?
• Are you going to attend the 5th annual marathon this weekend?
• We wish you an amazing 3rd anniversary, and we can't wait to celebrate your 10th, 20th, and 30th anniversaries. 
• This weekend is my 21st birthday. So, we have to do something memorable.

Recap: Which is Correct, '10th Anniversary' vs. '10nd Anniversary'

Finally, let's do a quick recap of what you learned in this post about whether '10th anniversary' or '10nd anniversary' is correct: 

• '10th anniversary' is the correct ordinal phrase. 
• '10nd anniversary' contains a grammatical error. 
• '10th' is the correct abbreviation of the ordinal tenth. 

Even after learning about ordinals, they can be challenging to remember, especially if English is your second language. So, if you ever get stumped, you can always return to this page to review this lesson.

You can also learn about hundreds of other commonly mistaken, misused, misspelled, and mispronounced terms in the confusing words section here.

Each guide contains a short and detailed answer with definitions, grammar and usage tips, sentence samples, and pronunciations. They are an excellent way to expand your vocabulary while learning critical grammar rules.

So, if you have been wondering about the meanings of any terms, check them out before you go!