Dates in English: complete guide

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:

Style04/07/2025 means
British4 July 2025
American7 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 April

  • In 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:

DayOrdinalPronunciation
11stFirst
22ndSecond
33rdThird
2121stTwenty-first
2222ndTwenty-second
3131stThirty-first

You can also use abbreviations for months, especially in informal contexts or calendars:

MonthAbbreviation
JanuaryJan
FebruaryFeb
MarchSea
AprilApr
AugustAug
SeptemberSep
OctoberOct
NovemberNov
DecemberDec

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:

  1. Transform these dates in the British and American style:

    • 03/07/2025
    • 25/12/1999
    • 01/01/2000
  2. Write these dates in full:

    • 4th of July, 1776
    • 31st December 2024
  3. Translates into English:

    • I was born on 15 August 1992.
    • The meeting is on 3 November.
    • The journey is on 21 June 2025.
  4. 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!

If you want to continue learning English, ask us for information about our courses.  free English language courses for companies! 🚀

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