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I know that Joe Biden is the 46th president of USA, but if I was to ask this as a question what would that be?

Maurice Moss
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  • This sounds fine. Note that presidential numbering is in part conventional (e.g. Grover Cleveland was 22nd and 24th) so it makes sense to ask for the number rather than anything more complex. – Stuart F Nov 23 '22 at 11:23
  • The problem is "What number of president" instead of "What number president?" which would at least net you "He's number 46" or "The 46th." – Yosef Baskin Nov 23 '22 at 14:51

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"Ordinally, which president is Joe Biden?" is correct but not common:

OED

ordinally, adv.

Etymology: < ordinal adj. + -ly suffix2.

With regard to, [...] according to an ordinal number, system, etc.; on an ordinal scale; with regard to order.

1950 Biometrics 6 1 Subjective appraisals may be quantified by ordinally ranking an entire test series or by scoring each sample individually.

You should avoid

(i) "In order, which president is Joe Biden?" as it does not say how the ordering is to be made.

(ii) "in order of election" should also be avoided as some presidents have been elected more than once.

I would suggest

"George Washington was the first President; which is Joe Biden?"

Greybeard
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  • Thank you for your input! Your suggestion sounds does sound legit. I was discussing this among friends and we feel like there isn't any straight forward way to ask this, otherwise very, simple question - which is kind of strange. – Maurice Moss Nov 23 '22 at 11:11