Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 24-May-2006, 22:45
IainC
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Writing a Date

Hi,
I was wondering if someone could clarify the following: when writing a date, should you put 'the' and 'of'? For example: should it be 'the 5th of May" or "5th May".
I always thought it was the latter, but have noticed people have put 'the' and 'of' when writing a date.
I hope someone can help.
Best wishes,
Iain, in the UK.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 24-May-2006, 22:50
Red5's Avatar
Webmaster, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: England
Posts: 2,750
Current Location: London
First Language: British English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 36 Times in 23 Posts
Red5 has disabled reputation
Default Re: Writing a Date

Good question. I'd go for the former, especially in formal situations, but it could be a preference/regional thing. Perhaps someone else has a more definitive answer.

Red (in the UK)
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 25-May-2006, 01:46
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Country: USA
Posts: 150
Current Location: USA
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
river is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Writing a Date

I don't live in the UK, but "on 5 May" is the format I've noticed most on the Internet. I suspect that the article and the ordinal designation are more often spoken than written.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 25-May-2006, 02:57
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,130
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Thanks: 2
Thanked 242 Times in 232 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: Writing a Date

You'll see both being used.
If I am writing a date in the text of a letter, I'd use the...of, but I just put 5th May 2006 at the top.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 29-Mar-2007, 09:14
Newbie
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Country: Tunisia
Posts: 1
Current Location: Tunisia
First Language: English and french
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
lamitta is on a distinguished road
Talking Re: Writing a Date


Hi all,
I have the same problem but I came to a conclusion (but not very sure) that at the top of a letter we write 5th May 2007 (british) and May 5, 2007 (american) and in the bottom of a letter we write the 5th of May 2007.
Best wishes. lamitta (tunisia)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
writing, date

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Where to start improving my English writing Callisto Ask a Teacher 4 14-Jun-2008 07:07
editing hashem Editing & Writing Topics 2 14-Jan-2008 23:52
I WANT TO STRAT WRITING kutekool_22 Ask a Teacher 1 27-Mar-2004 12:14
how can we make writing subject more interesting? Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 18-Mar-2004 08:41
sounds like a date to me zeppy Ask a Teacher 1 14-Dec-2003 19:19


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 21:52.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com