How to Write and Read Date in English

Reading date in English has special rules that may differ from those in other languages.

Additionally, it shows specific differences in spelling between British and American English. These two facts can sometimes be a challenge for learners of English.

How to read "date" in English?

When we say the date in English we normally use ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc) instead of cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc).  

 

Date in British & American 

In British English, the date usually begins with the day followed by the month, while in American English the month is normally first. This is also true when we abbreviate a date into three numbers. For example, 1st December 2017 becomes: 

• British English: 31/04/2022
  
• American English: 04/31/2022.

 

See: All Different Vocabulary Between American and British English

 

How to write "Date" in English?

 

To avoid confusion, when writing an email or other written form of the English language, it is best to write the month as a (January, February, etc) or its abbreviation (Jan. Feb. etc) and not in numbers. 

And remember that the months are always written in capital letters, you should not say the year unless the question needs the year, examples:

• March 17, 2022
• December 22, 2025

Date format in British

• 13 Jan.
• 13 January
• 13 January 2022
• 13th January 2022
• The 13th of January 2022 (formal) (13th of January)
• The 13th of January, 2022 (formal) (the 13th January)
• Saturday, 13 January 2022
• Saturday the 13th of January, 2022
• 13/1/19 = 13.1.19 = 13-1-19
• 13/01/2022 = 13.01.2022 = 13-01-2022
• 13Jan2022 =  13-Jan-2022 
   

Date format in American

• Jan 13
• January 13
• January 13, 2022
• Monday, January 13, 2022
• January the 13th (less common)
• January 13th (less common)
• 01/13/22 = 01.13.22 = 01-13-22
• 01/13/2022 = 01.13.2022 = 01-13-2022
• Jan. 13, 2022
   

Date format in International Standard

The international standard recommends writing the date as year, then month, then the day: YYYY-MM-DD. 

Examples:

• 2022-01-13. 
• 2022 January 13
  

 

How can you ask about "Date" in English?

 

The main question about date is: 

• What's the date today? 
• What's today’s date?
• What's the date tomorrow? 
• What's tomorrow’s date? 

 

People may give you the number:

• It's the 13th
• It's 13th January
• January 13th. 
• It's 13th January. 
• Today is 13th January.
• Tomorrow is January 13th.
  

 

The answer to your question will likely start with...:  

• The date is …
• The date today is …
• Today is…
• It is… (most common)

 

See: Homonyms Vocabulary: All Words List