XXV

Meanings

1. 1number

   The Roman numeral for twenty-five, written as XXV.

   Grammar: Roman numerals do not change form for singular or plural; XXV can be read as 'twenty-five'.

   Patterns

   • XXV + noun (e.g. Chapter XXV)

   The final chapter is marked XXV in the table of contents.

   On the old clock tower, the number twenty-five appears as XXV.

   King Henry XXV is not a real historical figure; the numeral is just used for numbering.

2. 2number

   The twenty-fifth item in a numbered series that uses Roman numerals.

   Grammar: Often used after a noun, as in 'Volume XXV' or 'Super Bowl XXV'.

   Patterns

   • noun + XXV (e.g. Volume XXV)

   The library holds the complete set, but Volume XXV is missing.

   Super Bowl XXV took place in 1991.

   She was the XXVth person to sign the petition, though the form usually writes it as 25th.

Common combinations

Chapter XXV

The novel's most exciting scene is in Chapter XXV.

Volume XXV

The encyclopedia's Volume XXV covers topics from W to Z.

XXVth

The ordinal form XXVth is rare; people normally write 25th.

Super Bowl XXV

Super Bowl XXV is remembered for its close finish.

Synonyms and how they differ

25

The everyday Arabic numeral; use it in almost all modern contexts instead of XXV.

twenty-five

The spoken or written word form; use it in running text, not for formal numbering.

Word family

XXIV number

Roman numeral for twenty-four, one less than XXV.

XXVI number

Roman numeral for twenty-six, one more than XXV.

XX number

Roman numeral for twenty.

V number

Roman numeral for five.

Commonly confused: XXV or XXIV?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “XXV”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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