Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Follow dialectical norms
• Method 2 of 3: Using different levels of formality and scope
• Method 3 of 3: Format numerical data
• Tips

Writing the date may seem simple but at the same time it is sometimes complicated. You only need to convey a few bits of information, but there is more than one way to write down a date. Instead, there are a handful of different formats for different occasions, dialects, and purposes. When choosing a variation, use the variation that is most clear to your audience. When entering dates on a form, choose a numeric format to avoid confusion. If you're writing to someone abroad, consider unsubscribing for the month or following the international standard. Formally, you can show respect on a formal document by writing out the entire date, but feel free to keep the date short and sweet on an informal letter.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Follow dialectical norms

1. Put the month before the day in American English. This format, which is used in the United States and other countries that follow US-English conventions, is based on the order most commonly used in conversations. To use it, write out the month, followed by the day, followed by the year. This looks like the following examples:
   • Oct 9
   • October 9
   • 10/09/22
2. Put a comma between the day and the year in American English sentences. In American English, there is a comma for the year. Use the comma both when writing out the day and when using numbers. Also add a comma after the weekday if you are writing it down. The previous example would be written out as:
   • October 9, 2022
   • October nine, 2022
   • Sunday, October 9, 2022
   • Placing a comma between the month and the year is optional. In British English.
3. Put the day for the month in British English. This system is used in the United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries in the world. Arrange the information from smallest to largest, with the smallest detail (the day) preceding the next larger category (the month) and ending with the largest category (the year). Depending on the level of formality you want to use, you can write the data in one of the following variations:
   • Oct 9
   • 9th October
   • October 9, 2022
   • 09/10/22
   • Sunday 9th October 2022
4. Include "the" and "or" when spelling data in British English. If you write the date in sentence format, put "the" before the day and "or" before the month. It's important to use both together and not just one or the other. Correct options are:
   • The 9th of October
   • Sunday the ninth of October
5. After the day, post an ordinal indicator in British English sentences. If you are using numbers instead of spelling the day, add a two letter ordinal indicator after the last number. Choose one of the 4 ordinal indicators (-e, -ste) that matches the suffix of the spelled word (eg First, second). For example, you could write the following:
   • The 21st of June
   • The 22nd of July
   • The 23rd of August
   • The 24th of September
   • Note that most numbers are followed by -st. So you write 11th, 12th and 13th.
   • This tactic is less commonly used in American English, but it is still accepted.
6. Write down the year first if you are using the international standard. To avoid confusion between British and American English, use the international standard. This system filters the information from the largest category down to the smallest detail. Place the year before the month and end with the day.
   • The same date, which would be 9/10/22 in US English, but 9/10/22 in British English, will then be 10/9/2022 according to the international standard.
   • You could also write this date as 2022 October 9. Do not use commas.
   • Always write down the full 4-digit year when using this format.

Method 2 of 3: Using different levels of formality and scope

1. Write out the day, month, and year for very formal invitations. Even if you follow US English rules, include the first day when describing each piece of information. Only use this format for the most formal documents, such as a wedding invitation or a formal certificate such as a diploma.
   • Try for an invitation "We request your presence on April five, two thousand and twenty."
   • Use this markup to show courtesy and respect to the reader and the occasion.
2. Spell out the month only in formal and semi-formal contexts. For a less formal invitation, announcement, or correspondence, it is acceptable to write numbers for the day and year along with the written version of the month. This is also common in many academic-style manuals.
   • If you identify an event or occasion, write "down" before the day. If you omit the day, you put "on" before the month or year.
   • In British English you could write "She was born on May 8, 1883".
   • In American English, try "She was born on May 8 of 1883" or "She was born in May 1883."
3. Choose numbers when dating documents. Write the date in numbers at the top of a memo, a page of dictations, an impersonal business report such as an invoice, or other correspondence to indicate when the report was created or when something needs to be done. Only use grades when prompted by a form or according to record keeping rules. Also try to use numeric data in a spreadsheet or file name to organize your data.
   • You can write the date in MM / DD / YY format at the top of a greeting card so that your recipient knows when you wrote it.
   • A museum database can use the format YYYY-MM-DD to identify when an object was acquired.
   • You may be asked to provide your date of birth in MM-DD-YYYY format on a government form.

Method 3 of 3: Format numerical data

1. Separate the month, day, and year with slashes or hyphens. Use hyphens or slashes to use the most common methods of separating numbers. Opt for periods or bullets for a more stylized version. If none of these options are available to include a date in a file name, try underscores instead. November twenty-third may be written out in any of the following formats in US English:
   • 11-23-03
   • 11/23/03
   • 11.23.03
   • 11_23_03
   • Choose hyphens for the international standard. The same date would be written in this format as 2003-23-11.
2. Optionally add a "0" before single digit month and day numbers. When writing down dates numerically, add a "0" before January through September, and the first through the ninth day of the month. This is often required in forms, but you can use it to visually neat your own list of dates. It makes all your numeric dates the same length and ensures correct sorting.
   • For example, you can use 3/2/15 or 03/02/15.
   • In a list of dates, 2/3/15 would be as long as 2/12/15.
   • If you're using 3/2/15 in your list, the earlier date may not be sorted correctly after the later date. This happens because the first digit in the March date (3) is higher than the first digit in the December date (1). Add a "0" to avoid this error.
3. Use numbers if you see "MM," "DD," and "YY" or "YYYY" on a form. If you are asked to enter a date on a form, you will often see something like MM / DD / YY or DD-MM-YYYY. These letters indicate how many numbers you have to write down and in what order. "MM" stands for the two-digit month, and "DD" stands for a two-digit day. "YY" indicates to write down the last two digits of the year, and "YYYY" indicates to write all 4 digits.
   • If necessary, use a "0" before single digit days and months.
   • If you are asked to enter the date in MM / DD / YY format, you can write 05/12/94.
   • If you are prompted to use the DD-MM-YYYY format, this date is May 12, 1994.
   • You may see these letters without any separation on some forms. For DDMMYY simply enter 120594 unless otherwise stated.

Tips

• When writing the date, adapt your format to your audience. If you are writing for an international audience, use a format that cannot be confused, such as the international standard or one with the month specified.