Writing Dates and Times
Rule: The following examples apply when using dates:
The meeting is scheduled for June 30.
The meeting is scheduled for the 30th of June.
We have had tricks played on us on April 1.
The 1st of April puts some people on edge.
Rule: When expressing decades, you may spell them out and lowercase them.
Example: During the eighties and nineties, the United States economy grew.
Rule: Whether you express decades using incomplete or complete numerals, do not use an apostrophe between the year and the s. When using an incomplete numeral, use an apostrophe to replace the first two numbers.
Correct:
During the ’80s, the world’s economy grew.
During the 1980s, the world’s economy grew.
Incorrect:
During the ’80’s, the world’s economy grew.
During the 1980’s, the world’s economy grew.
Rule: Spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o’clock, the number is always spelled out.
Example: She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
Example: The baby wakes up at five o’clock in the morning.
Rule: Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized.
Example: Her flight leaves at 6:22 a.m.
Example: Please arrive by 12:30 p.m. sharp.
Rule: Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m.
Note: You may use AM and PM rather than a.m. and p.m.
Quiz: Correct or Incorrect?
1. The last outbreak of smallpox occurred in the late 1970’s.
2. Can you get here by 12:00 midnight?
3. Please deliver the package by August 1st, 2009.
Answers:
1. 1970s
2. midnight (leave out 12:00)
3. August 1, 2009
January 22, 2009 at 9:47 am
I’m confused at the use of “th” in the dates on this website (e.g. “This entry was posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 …”
Shouldn’t it be “This entry was posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008?”
If the “th” is correct, please explain why. Thanks
January 22, 2009 at 9:54 am
Peggy, you are absolutely right that the “th” is incorrectly used in this blog software. Maybe we can start a letter-writing campaign to WordPress.
May 28, 2009 at 5:11 am
Thanks for the useful resource. It would be great if the Word Editor such as Microsoft Word could make corrections when mistakes are made in writing dates and times.
August 6, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Either is correct.
September 14, 2009 at 8:18 am
Sandy, I agree with you that Microsoft Word should correct dates with its AutoCorrect feature. It does, however, insert dates correctly when using date fields. Both Word and Excel’s “long date” format will look look like this: Monday, September 14, 2009.
In Word 2007, click on the Insert tab, then click Date & Time (right-hand side, Text group). In Excel 2007 on the Home tab, click the Number Format drop-down arrow and select Long Date.
I am a computer applications instructor and I always mention this to my adult students.
June 23, 2010 at 12:44 pm
How do you write time? he was late 4 minutes and 30 seconds or 4:30 minutes?
June 23, 2010 at 6:42 pm
If you write 4:30, you are indicating a particular time, not a duration of time. Since you are writing about minutes and seconds (two different categories), follow my rule that says this: If you have numbers in different categories, use numerals for one category and spell out the other.
Example: All 30 history students attended the four plays. (Students are represented with figures; plays are represented with words.)
Your Example: He was four minutes and 30 seconds late.
In most circumstances, you would actually write this: He was 4 1/2 minutes late.
I asked for five pencils, not 50.
June 29, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Should it be 5:00 AM or just 5 AM?
June 30, 2010 at 11:16 am
According to the AP Style Manual, either 5:00 a.m. or 5 a.m. would be correct. Even mixing the two is fine. (See below) Note, however, that the standard is a.m. and p.m., not AM and PM.
AP Style Manual: Q. Can you please tell me how time should be written. Is 9 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. corrrect? Or, should it appear as 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Thank you!
A. AP style is 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 2007-05-13 (Source: Ask the Editor, Dates, time periods)
June 30, 2010 at 3:13 pm
What is the correct way to write the following:
The trade was executed at 3:00 p.m., PT, on Wednesday, June 30th.
July 1, 2010 at 10:40 am
The best way to write this: The trade was executed on Wednesday, June 30, at 3:00 p.m., PST (or PDT). Note that the day and date appear before the time. Also, I replaced PT with PST or PDT, the more standard abbreviations. Finally, I eliminated the “th” from “June 30.”
July 22, 2010 at 10:06 am
would “The morning of July 31, 1901″
be correct, or ….July 31st,1901 ?
This is still confusing for me.
July 22, 2010 at 10:11 am
Do not add “st” or “th” to dates that include the year. Even dates that do not include the year do not need pronunciation help. Example: Her birthday is on August 28, which falls on a Saturday this year.
July 22, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for your anwer, but now I have another question (or two): is the following correct?
Working 9 to 5, five days a week, (no AM, PM?)
Also, 48 hour strike, the first 72 hours, 24 hour day? Should the numbers be spelled? If not, should the number and hour or hours hyphonated?
July 22, 2010 at 6:52 pm
With “working 9 to 5,” you don’t need “AM/PM” because it is an expression and the “AM/PM” is understood. If, however, you say, “He needs to be at work by 10,” you would want to clarify morning vs. evening.
Hyphenation answers: 48-hour strike Explanation: Hyphenate compound adjectives (48-hour) in front of a noun (strike).
the first 72 hours Explanation: Do not hyphenate onto a noun (hours).
24-hour day Explanation: Hyphenate compound adjectives (24-hour) in front of a noun (day).
Numbers greater than nine (or ten) do not need to be spelled out.
July 23, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Thanks, you were a great help!
August 3, 2010 at 10:54 am
Does it matter that the year of the date falls on to the second line in a paragraph? For example:
“…the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 21,
2010.”
August 3, 2010 at 10:59 am
Place the entire date, excluding the day of the week, on one line: “…the next meeting is scheduled for Saturday,
August 21, 2010.”
August 20, 2010 at 12:45 am
Hi,
I am troubled by this question from my daughter,
Is “The first telephone directory was issued February 21, 1878, by the New Haven Telephone Company.” fine enough or the word “on” is required before the date?
Thank you for your help,
August 20, 2010 at 9:54 am
Use “on” with a complete date: The first telephone directory was issued on February 21, 1878…
August 26, 2010 at 11:10 am
What about the use of dates as adjectives? I’ve seen conflicting guidance on whether a comma should follow a date when it’s used as a adjective: the July 2, 2010, meeting or the July 2, 2010 meeting.
August 26, 2010 at 11:12 am
the July 2, 2010, meeting
Always use commas.