Dates

The date format in American English

It is a wee bit confusing to write the date in English, since we have a different way of expressing dates based on British English or American English. Our focus is on dates of American English. Its most common way is to write the day of the month first, then followed by the day of the month, and the year:

• September 12
• September 12, 2021 
• Tuesday, September 12, 2021

 

Dates written as September the 12th or September 12th are not incorrect, but are less common in American English:

• September the 12th
• September 12th 

 

With the exception of May and June, Months can be shortened as follows:

• Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec.

We can also write the date in numbers only:

• 09/12/21 or 09.12.21 or 09-12-21
• 09/12/2021 or 09.12.2021 or 09-12-2021
• Sept. 12, 2021

 

How to say years in English

When you are talking about years, this is how you would say the year correctly in English:

• 1200: 'twelve hundred'
• 1308: 'thirteen hundred and eight' or 'thirteen 'oh' eight'
• 1768: 'seventeen (hundred and) sixty-eight'
• 1910: 'nineteen (hundred and) ten'
• 2000: 'two thousand'
• 2002: 'two thousand and two' or 'twenty 'oh' two'
• 2018: 'two thousand and eighteen' or 'twenty eighteen'