Fourteen or fourteen: which is the correct way to write it?

Writing "catorze" or "quatorze" is something that always generates doubt, since it's common to see both forms written out there.

The Portuguese language and its particularities

You've probably heard about how complex the Portuguese language is, considered by many to be one of the most difficult languages in the world to learn.

And if you're almost finished with high school, or have even already graduated, you know that this reputation is well-deserved.

That's because, when we talk about grammar, The Portuguese language can present significant challenges related to spelling, punctuation, conjugation, and many other issues.

But, far beyond technical standards, our language is so complicated because of the absurd number of words that exist.

For the same object, we can have several different names, just as a single word can have several meanings.

This diversity is due to the country's culture, which is composed of a mixture of various cultures from each region of Brazil.

Furthermore, the language we speak here is influenced by various peoples, especially the Tupi-Guarani culture, European countries, and currently we are noticing a significant movement of incorporating English into our language.

Therefore, mastering Portuguese is not a simple task, especially when we talk about rules and correct spelling of words.

Today we'll understand whether "catorze" or "quatorze" is the correct spelling, and we'll also see other examples of words that often cause confusion!

Fourteen or fourteen: how to write it?

From the moment we learn numbers in school, a question lingers in every student's mind: is it actually fourteen or fourteen?

Many believe that the spelling "catorze" is incorrect, due to the lack of similarity with the number four, while others swear that it is an informal spelling.

Therefore, it is common to see many people consider "quatorze" (fourteen) to be the correct spelling, since it is much closer to the word four, which defines one of the numbers in 14.

But is this perception correct? Is fourteen really an informal spelling?

We've already stated that no, the word "catorze" is not wrong, and it certainly cannot be considered informal writing.

This is because the word "catorze" or "quatorze" is a classic example of a word in the Portuguese language that has two spellings.

This definition indicates that the word has two correct spellings; therefore, both catorze and quatorze are formally accepted in writing.

The reason for this acceptance is that neither spelling is grammatically or semantically incorrect.

Therefore, if you've ever been unsure how to write 14 in words, know that both forms are correct.

This means that it is possible to write using both methods on any occasion, including checks, essays, and documents.

Are there other words with double spellings besides Catorze or quatorze?

By now you understand that both catorze and quatorze are correct spellings for the number 14, and can be used formally without any distinction.

But did you know that this isn't the only word in the Portuguese language with two spellings?

There are many words in our language that have more than one correct spelling, without any change in meaning.

We will now look at some examples.

Eggplant or aubergine;
To whistle or to whistle;
Diabetes;
To derail or to derail;
Thermal power plant or thermoelectric plant;
Chucro or Xucro;
Drunkard or Intoxicated;
Catinga or Caatinga;
Heart attack or stroke or heart attack;
Great-great-grandson or Great-great-great-grandson;
Blonde or Blond;
Daily life or everyday routine;
Chimpanzee
Gas cylinder and stopper;
Percentage
Among many other examples.

Did you see how many words have double spellings? Some of them even change the way they are pronounced.

These examples help us understand how diverse the Portuguese language is, and how often what we think is wrong is actually correct, being just a variation.

Tips for preparing for the ENEM and university entrance exam essays.

We've already settled the question of whether it's fourteen or fourteen.

Therefore, we already know that both spellings are correct and can be used.

Therefore, if you need to write the number 14 out in words on the ENEM or other university entrance exams, you now know what to do.

But that's not the only word in the Portuguese language that can play tricks on you.

That's because, as we've already mentioned, our language is quite complex.

Therefore, it's common for doubts to arise, especially in moments where the pressure is evident.

However, it's worth noting that grammar is a very important factor in doing well on college entrance exams.

After all, there's no point in getting the questions right if you lose points on the essay due to incorrect spelling or punctuation errors.

Therefore, we will now look at some tips that will help you do well on the test!

Keep an eye on the grammar.

If there's something that can make you lose points in college entrance exam essay, that's certainly a grammar mistake.

That's because misspelled words or words with letters swapped can give the impression that you don't have a good command of the language.

It is very common for candidates to confuse "s" with "z", or "ss" with "ç", or even symbols, such as "~" with "^", and so on.

Therefore, brush up on your grammar to avoid mistakes and ensure a good grade!

Study the requested structure.

College entrance essays usually have a structure for grading.

Therefore, students who follow the structure have a greater chance of getting a good grade.

Therefore, keep an eye on this issue, and look for essay models to study.

Scoring is very important.!

When we talk about texts that are difficult to read, you can be sure that punctuation plays a huge role in this.

That's because not including a simple comma, or adding a period where it's not appropriate, can ruin the reading experience.

Therefore, study punctuation, as it is important to ensure your text is understood.

These were our tips for doing well on the college entrance exams.

Take the opportunity to check out more content about grammar, writing, and college entrance exams here on the website!

Roberta

I am a member of the O Administrador team and I produce content about career, personal finance, financial education, productivity, and professional development. My goal is to share clear and practical information to help readers with their day-to-day decisions.

September 25, 2023

Graduation