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Neha Karve
The U.S. date format is month-day-year: the month appears before the day (May 12, 2022), while UK style is day-month-year: the day appears before the month (12 May 2022). A comma separates day and year in American English; no comma is necessary in a date in British English. Be careful with all-numeric dates: 12/5 is December 5 in American usage (month-day) but 12 May in British (day-month). The ISO date format, YYYY-MM-DD, helps eliminate ambiguity and avoid confusion in international settings.
In both styles, American and British, the day and the year are written in numerals, while the month is spelled out.
Examples
- American: The world did not end on October 21, 2011.
British: The world did not end on 21 October 2011. - American: It did not end on December 21, 2012, either.
British: It did not end on 21 December 2012 either. - American: On July 1, 1869, three British colonies merged to form the self-governing entity of Canada.
British: On 1 July 1869, three British colonies merged to form the self-governing entity of Canada.
Tip
Much of the world uses the British date format of day-month-year, although some countries follow ISO format (numeric YYYY-MM-DD) in official communication. Others, like Canada, use both U.S. and British formats, but follow British or ISO in government documents.
Use of ordinals
Although ordinals are used in speech (October twenty-first), they are considered unnecessary and therefore omitted in formal American writing. In general, avoid using ordinals (st, nd, rd, th) in dates.
Example
- Poor: Humans first stood on Everest’s summit on May 29th, 1953.
Better: Humans first stood on Everest’s summit on May 29, 1953.
In British English, ordinals are sometimes used in dates, although cardinal numbers are preferred in formal writing.
Example
- Informal: On 1st April 1957, the BBC broadcast pictures of a spaghetti harvest in Italy.
Formal: On 1 April 1957, the BBC broadcast pictures of a spaghetti harvest in Italy.
Use of commas
In American English, commas are used in dates to typographically separate the day from the year.
Examples
- Correct: On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.
- Correct: First contact was on October 31, 2021.
In the British date format, commas may or may not be used. In formal writing, they are considered unnecessary and generally omitted.
Example
- Correct: Queen Elizabeth II was crowned monarch on 2 June 1953.
- Correct: At 2:33 p.m. GMT on 31 October 2021, we made first contact with the Durandians.
When writing the date in American English, remember to use commas in pairs: a comma should appear both before and after the year in formal writing.
Example
- Poor: An innocent radio broadcast on October 30, 1938 about a fictional alien invasion caused mass panic among listeners.
Better: An innocent radio broadcast on October 30, 1938, about a fictional alien invasion caused mass panic among listeners.
Note
In news copy, the closing comma after the year is often omitted.
When only the month and year are indicated, commas are omitted in both British and American usage.
Example
- Correct: It was in March 2020 that WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic.
The month abbreviated
The month may be abbreviated in both British and American usage when it is part of a specific date. The same rules apply: use the month-day-year format in American writing; day-month-year in British. A comma separates day and year in American English; no comma is needed in British style. To abbreviate the month, write its first three letters, followed by a period.
Examples
- American: Jan. 9, 1997
British: 9 Jan. 1997 - American: Dec. 31, 2021
British: 31 Dec. 2021
Tip
The names of the months May, June, and July are not abbreviated.
Numeric dates
All-numeric dates are used informally or when there are space constraints. Dates are written as usual: month-day-year format in American usage and day-month-year in British. Hyphens or slashes are used to separate the parts of a date. The first two digits of the year may be omitted.
Examples
- American: 1-9-97 (January 9, 1997)
British: 9-1-97 (9 January 1997) - American: 5/11/09 (May 11, 2009)
British: 11/5/09 (11 May 2009)
Caution
All-numeric dates can be particularly confusing to an international audience: 2/1 is February 1 in American usage but 2 January in British. When numeric formats are required in formal texts, such as in a table or a chart, use ISO format (YYYY-MM-DD): 2021-02-01 for February 1, 2021.
ISO style
With all-numeric dates, prefer to use the ISO standard format: year-month-day, written as YYYY-MM-DD. This internationally agreed-on style is useful with a global audience or where confusion between British and American English could result in expensive mistakes—for example, in flight schedules at airports. Apart from removing ambiguity, this system makes it easier to sort and store computer files.
Examples
- Departure: 2022-02-01
for February 1, 2022
- CaptainsLog_20220201
date in a file name
Examples from published content
Here are some more examples of how dates are written in American and British English.
Examples
- American:
On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free.
— New York Times (June 14, 2020)
- American:
Scores of locations in the East had their coldest May 29 on record on Saturday.
— Washington Post (May 30, 2021)
- American:
Who really declared independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776?
— Atlantic (July 4, 2019)
- British:
On 11 March 2011, Japan was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes on record.
— BBC (February 2, 2016)
- British:
The science of X-ray astronomy was born on 18 June 1962.
— Guardian (November 18, 1999)
- British:
The family exchange their presents in the afternoon on 24 December, as outlined on the official royal website.
— Independent (December 24, 2018)
As a seasoned language and writing expert, I've delved deep into the intricacies of linguistic nuances, particularly in the realm of date formats. With a wealth of knowledge in language conventions, I can confidently guide you through the subtle yet significant differences in how dates are formatted and presented, shedding light on the conventions used in American English, British English, and the internationally recognized ISO format.
In the article you've provided, the author, Neha Karve, offers a comprehensive exploration of date formatting conventions in American and British English. The piece emphasizes the importance of clarity and consistency in communication, especially in an increasingly globalized world. Let's break down the key concepts covered in the article:
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Date Format Differences:
- American English: Month-day-year (e.g., October 21, 2011)
- British English: Day-month-year (e.g., 21 October 2011)
- ISO Format: YYYY-MM-DD (e.g., 2011-10-21)
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Numeric Representation:
- Both American and British styles use numerals for the day and year.
- American English spells out the month (e.g., May 29, 1953).
- British English prefers cardinal numbers but may use ordinals in informal settings (e.g., 1st April 1957).
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Use of Commas:
- In American English, commas are used to separate the day and year (e.g., July 20, 1969).
- In British English, commas are optional and often omitted in formal writing (e.g., 2 June 1953).
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Ordinal Numbers:
- Ordinals (st, nd, rd, th) are generally avoided in formal American writing (e.g., May 29, 1953).
- British English may use ordinals in dates, especially in informal contexts (e.g., 1st April 1957).
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Abbreviation of Months:
- Both American and British styles allow for the abbreviation of months when part of a specific date (e.g., Jan. 9, 1997; 9 Jan. 1997).
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All-Numeric Dates:
- All-numeric dates are used informally and may cause confusion between American and British styles (e.g., 2/1 can be February 1 or 2 January).
- The ISO standard (YYYY-MM-DD) is recommended for formal contexts to avoid ambiguity.
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ISO Style:
- YYYY-MM-DD is the internationally agreed-on ISO format, recommended for global communication and to prevent misunderstandings.
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Examples from Published Content:
- The article provides real-world examples of date formatting in both American and British English contexts, showcasing diverse instances of how dates are presented in reputable publications.
In essence, the article serves as a valuable guide for writers and communicators, emphasizing the importance of adhering to specific conventions to ensure clarity and prevent potential misinterpretations, particularly in international settings.
