Dates are something we use casually in everyday life. Whether writing in journals, business contexts, or calendars, we encounter them almost daily. Did you know that the way dates are written actually differs from country to country? While we might think there's a standard way, even the order of elements varies significantly between nations.
When writing English journals, date formatting can be particularly confusing. This complete guide covers everything from American vs British styles to international standards and abbreviations.
The 3 Main Date Order Systems
There are roughly three main ways to order dates.
1. International Standard (ISO Format)
Order: Year-Month-Day
Example: December 13, 2024 → 2024-12-13
This format is most familiar to learners from Asia (Japan, China, Korea) and is widely used across Asian countries. Iran also adopts this system. The IT world frequently follows this standard as well.
2. British Style (UK English)
Order: Day-Month-Year
Example: December 13, 2024 → 13 December 2024
This is the reverse pattern from the international standard. Widely used throughout the UK and Europe, it's also common in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, and various African countries—many of which are Commonwealth nations.
3. American Style (US English)
Order: Month-Day-Year
Example: December 13, 2024 → December 13, 2024
This format is primarily used throughout the United States.
Canada Uses All Three
Canada uniquely employs all three date ordering systems. While officially following the international standard, Canadians adapt flexibly to their audience, using all three formats as needed. This requires special attention when communicating with Canadians or visiting Canada.
Real-World Caution
Date ordering becomes most problematic with expiration dates. When dates appear in numbers only, you must determine the country of manufacture or target market to interpret them correctly.
Writing Years in English
In English, as in many languages, years are typically written as numbers: "2024." However, special care is needed when years appear at the beginning of sentences.
Years at the Beginning of Sentences
Starting sentences with numerals is considered poor style in formal English. For example, when writing "2024 is a significant year," you should spell out the year:
- Good: "Two thousand and twenty-four is an eventful year."
- Good: "Two thousand twenty-four is an eventful year."
- Good: "Twenty twenty-four is an eventful year."
- Poor: "2024 is an eventful year." (appears childish)
British vs American Differences
- British English: Includes "and" → "Two thousand and twenty-four"
- American English: Omits "and" → "Two thousand twenty-four"
Year Expression Options
When expressing years in English, the choice is largely a matter of preference:
- Four digits as-is: "Two thousand twenty-four"
- Split into pairs: "Twenty twenty-four"
Abbreviations
When abbreviating years by omitting the first two digits, always include an apostrophe:
- 2024 → '24
Writing Months and Days in English
When expressing "month and day" in English, the method varies by regional style. In written form, the month is typically spelled out while the day remains numerical.
American Month-Day Format
- Basic form: "December 13" (using cardinal numbers)
- Spoken: Ordinal numbers often used
- Written: Cardinal numbers standard
Important: American style uses cardinal numbers (one, two) rather than ordinal numbers (first, second) in written dates.
British Month-Day Format
Both cardinal and ordinal numbers are acceptable, so there's no strict rule to follow:
- Cardinal: "13 December"
- Ordinal: "13th December"
While ordinal expressions are somewhat more common, cardinal forms are equally correct.
British Special Format
British English sometimes uses "of" in date expressions. When using "of," always include "the":
- Complete form: "the 13th of December"
- Day only: "the thirteenth" (using ordinals)
Writing Full Dates (Year-Month-Day) in English
Unlike in some languages, English requires careful attention to comma placement when writing full dates. When spelling out dates, typically only the month is written as a word, while the year and day remain numerical.
British Full Date Format
No commas needed in "day-month-year" order:
- Basic form: "13 December 1989"
- Example: December 13, 1989 → "13 December 1989"
American Full Date Format
Commas required in "month-day-year" order:
- Basic form: "December 13, 1989"
- Example: December 13, 1989 → "December 13, 1989"
Warning: Writing "December 13th, 1989" with ordinal indicators is incorrect in standard American format.
Including Days of the Week
When displaying dates, including the day of the week is quite common. While many languages place the weekday after the date, English consistently places the weekday first. This rule applies to both British and American styles.
British Style (with weekday)
"Weekday-day-month-year" order without commas:
- Basic form: "Wednesday the 13th of December 1989"
- Example: Wednesday, December 13, 1989 → "Wednesday the 13th of December 1989"
American Style (with weekday)
"Weekday-month-day-year" order with commas after both weekday and day:
- Basic form: "Wednesday, December 13, 1989"
- Example: Wednesday, December 13, 1989 → "Wednesday, December 13, 1989"
Important: American style requires a comma after the weekday as well.
Formal Written Dates (All Words)
While the standard approach uses numbers for days with spelled-out months and years, some situations require spelling out everything, including the day.
When Formal Format Is Required
- Wedding invitations
- Diplomas and certificates
- High-formal official documents
Formal Format Examples
December 13, 1989 becomes:
- Formal: "the thirteenth of December in the year nineteen eighty-nine"
Important: Even Americans often adopt British-style formal dates for maximum formality and elegance.
All-Numerical Date Formats
Just as some contexts use only numbers for dates in other languages, English also employs purely numerical date expressions.
When to Use Numerical Formats
- Greeting cards
- Journal headers
- Records and data entry
Available Symbols
- / (slash)
- - (hyphen)
- . (period)
Format Examples by Style
December 13, 1989:
| Style | Format Examples |
|---|---|
| British | 13/12/198913-12-198913.12.1989 |
| American | 12/13/198912-13-198912.13.1989 |
| International | 1989/12/131989-12-131989.12.13 |
Important Cautions
Period Usage in British Format
When writing only month and day in British style, be careful with periods:
- December 13: "13.12"
- Time confusion: Could be mistaken for 13:12 (1:12 PM)
This confusion arises because British convention sometimes uses periods instead of colons for time notation.
Avoiding Confusion
Since numerical month-day expressions can cause British/American confusion, developing the habit of spelling out the month is recommended for clarity.
Abbreviation Methods
Even when writing words fully, spelling out everything can be tedious. Fortunately, English offers standard abbreviations for months, days (ordinals), and weekdays.
Month Abbreviations
Months always begin with capital letters. Generally, use the first three letters, though exceptions exist. While traditional rules required periods after abbreviations, modern usage increasingly omits them.
| Month | Full Name | Abbreviation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | January | Jan. | |
| February | February | Feb. | |
| March | March | Mar. | |
| April | April | Apr. | |
| May | May | May | Too short to abbreviate |
| June | June | Jun. | Often written in full (only 4 letters) |
| July | July | Jul. | |
| August | August | Aug. | |
| September | September | Sep. / Sept. | Sept. more commonly used |
| October | October | Oct. | |
| November | November | Nov. | |
| December | December | Dec. |
Day Abbreviations (Ordinals)
When using ordinal numbers for days, abbreviate with "number + ordinal suffix":
Ordinal Suffix Rules
- Standard: th (examples: 4th, 5th, 6th)
- Ends in 1: st (examples: 1st, 21st, 31st)
- Ends in 2: nd (examples: 2nd, 22nd)
- Ends in 3: rd (examples: 3rd, 23rd)
Exception: When tens digit is 1 (11th, 12th, 13th)
Weekday Abbreviations
Like months, weekdays always begin with capital letters when abbreviated:
| Weekday | Full Name | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Sunday | Sun. |
| Monday | Monday | Mon. |
| Tuesday | Tuesday | Tue. |
| Wednesday | Wednesday | Wed. |
| Thursday | Thursday | Thu. |
| Friday | Friday | Fri. |
| Saturday | Saturday | Sat. |
Regional Considerations for English Learners
American English Focus
If targeting American English:
- Use month-day-year order
- Include commas in full dates
- Remember: "December 13, 2024" not "December 13th, 2024"
- Omit "and" in spelled-out years
British English Focus
If targeting British English:
- Use day-month-year order
- No commas in full dates
- Both cardinal and ordinal days acceptable
- Include "and" in spelled-out years
Business and Academic Writing
American business: Strictly follow American conventions
British academic: Often more flexible, but consistency matters most
International contexts: Consider your primary audience
Common Mistakes to Avoid
American Format Errors
- Don't write ordinals in dates: "December 13, 2024" not "December 13th, 2024"
- Don't forget commas: "December 13, 2024" not "December 13 2024"
- Don't use "and" in years: "Two thousand twenty-four" not "Two thousand and twenty-four"
British Format Errors
- Don't add unnecessary commas: "13 December 2024" not "13, December, 2024"
- Don't mix American order: Keep to day-month-year consistently
International Format Errors
- Use leading zeros for consistency: "2024-12-13" not "2024-12-3"
- Don't confuse with American numerical format
Practice Tips for English Journal Writing
Getting Started
- Choose your target: American or British English
- Be consistent: Use one format throughout your journal
- Start simple: Begin with basic formats before attempting formal styles
- Practice variety: Try different formats in different entries
Daily Application
- Casual entries: Use abbreviated formats
- Formal entries: Practice full written formats
- Business practice: Match format to context
- Cultural awareness: Consider your reader's expectations
Building Confidence
The key to mastering English date formats is consistent practice and awareness of your target audience. Whether you choose American or British conventions, maintaining consistency throughout your writing demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.
Remember: there's no "wrong" choice between American and British formats—only inconsistent usage. Pick the style that matches your goals and stick with it!