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1.6.- Dates.

Almanaque.

When we write a formal letter, we have to write the date on the right, under the address of the person we are writing to. How do we write it, though?

  • August 9th, 1976

BRITISH STYLE

Day + month + year

  • 9 August 1976 / 9th August 1976

The British write the day followed by the month and then the year. They use both the cardinal and the ordinal number for the day.

AMERICAN STYLE

Month + Day + Year

  • August 9th, 1976

The Americans write the month first and then the day. They put a comma between the day (using the ordinal number) and the year.

This can be more confusing when filling forms because dates are written as series of numbers.

  • British style: 9.8.1976; 9 /8/1976; 9 Aug, 1976 (Day + Month + Year)
  • American style: 8.9.1976; 8/9 /1976; Aug. 9th, 1976 (Month + Day + Year)

PRONUNCIATION

Dates can be written in different ways, but they share the same pronunciation. We always say "the" before the day.

  • August the ninth / the ninth of August.

Americans sometimes pronounce it "August nine".

The day of the week is usually mentioned before the date itself.

  • What date is today? It's Friday the ninth of August / It's Friday August the ninth.

The year is usually mentioned after the day and month.

  • I was born on the ninth of August, nineteen seventy six.

ON

In British English you say that something happens on a particular day.

  • I got married on Sunday 4th September.

Americans sometimes leave out "on".

  • I got married Sunday September 4th.

The 19...'s

When you refer to the 1960's -sixties- , you are referring to the years between 1960 and 1969.

You can also specify by saying the early 80's (eighties: 1980-85) or the late 70's.

(1975-79).

Think about it

What is the date for the following series of numbers in American and British style?

For example:

25/ 9/1964
September 25th, 1964
25th September 1964

13/12/1936
27/11/1941
15/4/2008
30/8/1989
21/2/1875

Now it´s your turn.

Two interesting websites with exercises to practise dates in written and spoken English: