Knowing how to correctly use the dates in English is essential for communicating in both formal and informal contexts. From sending a professional email to planning a trip or taking an exam, knowing the formats, pronunciation and differences between British and American styles will make a big difference.
In this comprehensive guide you will learn:
- How to write and say dates in English.
- What formats exist and when they are used.
- The right prepositions.
- Common mistakes to avoid.
- Exercises and tips for mastering the subject.
How do you write dates in English?
English dates can be written in various ways, depending on the country and the level of formality. Broadly speaking, there are two main formats: the British and the American.
📌 UK format:
Day + Month + Year
- 12 March 2025
- 12th March 2025 (less formal form, with ordinal number)
📌 American (US) format:
Month + Day + Year
- March 12, 2025
- Mar 12th, 2025
In American English, commas are used between the day and the year:
March 15, 2024
When numbers are used, the order also changes:
| Style | 04/07/2025 means |
|---|---|
| British | 4 July 2025 |
| American | 7 April 2025 |
Tip: To avoid international confusion, it is best to always write the month in letters.
Pronunciation of dates in English
In addition to knowing how to write them down, it is important to know how to pronounce the dates correctly, as in English they are often used ordinal numbers (first, second, third...).
Examples:
14th July 1995
→ "The fourteenth of July, nineteen ninety-five".July 4, 1776
→ "July fourth, seventeen seventy-six".
To be taken into account:
In British English it is common to use "the" and "of":
"The twenty-third of AprilIn American English, "of" is not used:
"April twenty-third
The years are normally divided into two parts:
- 1987 → nineteen eighty-seven
- 2024 → twenty twenty-four
- 2000 → two thousand
Abbreviations and use of ordinal numbers
The days of the month are written with ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). Here are the most common ones:
| Day | Ordinal | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st | First |
| 2 | 2nd | Second |
| 3 | 3rd | Third |
| 21 | 21st | Twenty-first |
| 22 | 22nd | Twenty-second |
| 31 | 31st | Thirty-first |
You can also use abbreviations for months, especially in informal contexts or calendars:
| Month | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| January | Jan |
| February | Feb |
| March | Sea |
| April | Apr |
| August | Aug |
| September | Sep |
| October | Oct |
| November | Nov |
| December | Dec |
Prepositions to use with dates
Using the right prepositions is key to sounding natural and avoiding grammatical errors. Here are the most common ones:
✅ on → for specific dates
The meeting is on July 21st.
She was born on the 15th of March.
✅ in → for months, years, centuries or parts of the day
We moved here in 2012.
The event is in March.
✅ by → to indicate a time limit
Please deliver the report by Friday.
✅ since y for → with present perfect
I've lived here since 2010.
He has been studying for two years.
Formal and informal contexts
Dates are written differently depending on the degree of formality of the text.
🗨️ Informal (messages, notes, chats):
- Jan 5
- 5th March
- March 3rd
📨 Formal (mails, letters, reports):
- 5 January 2025
- January 5, 2025
- The fifth of January, twenty twenty-five
⚠️ Tip: Avoid abbreviations in formal documents. Always use the full month.
Common mistakes when writing dates in English
These are the most common mistakes to avoid:
❌ Confusing the order of day and month
04/06/2025 → April or June?
✅ Solution: write the month with letters (e.g., 4 June 2025)
❌ Omitting the comma in American style
Incorrect: July 4 2023
Right: July 4, 2023
❌ Misuse of prepositions
Incorrect: I was born on 1990
Right: I was born in 1990
❌ Literal translation from Spanish
Incorrect: The 3 of August
Right: August 3rd o The third of August
Practical tips for learning dates in English
Learning to use dates correctly is easier if you apply these tips:
🗓️ 1. Use an English language calendar
Set up your mobile phone or digital diary in English to expose you to the names of days and months on a daily basis.
📝 2. Write a personal diary
Make a diary in English or a weekly planner and write the dates in full.
🎧 3. Listen and repeat
Watch series or videos in English and repeat aloud how native speakers say dates.
🔁 4. Translate dates from Spanish to English
Take a Spanish calendar and convert the dates into English, using both the correct spelling and pronunciation.
Recommended exercises
Here are some activities to practice the dates in English:
Transform these dates in the British and American style:
- 03/07/2025
- 25/12/1999
- 01/01/2000
Write these dates in full:
- 4th of July, 1776
- 31st December 2024
Translates into English:
- I was born on 15 August 1992.
- The meeting is on 3 November.
- The journey is on 21 June 2025.
Complete with the correct preposition:
- I'll see you ___ Friday.
- She was born ___ September.
- We'll meet ___ the 2nd of May.
Conclusion
Knowing how to correctly handle the dates in English is an essential skill that will be useful in all areas of life: work, study, travel or social networking. Throughout this article, you have learned:
- The differences between British and American styles.
- How to write and pronounce dates accurately.
- Which prepositions to use and how to avoid common mistakes.
It is now up to you to practice and apply this knowledge in your daily life. Remember: every time you write a date, do so with attention to context and style.
The more you practice, the more natural your use of English will become, so let's get to work!
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