It's May 2/It's on May 2

[Lisa123]

Hello, there
Would you please help me with the correct answer to the following question? I’m not sure If the preposition is needed. Thank you.
What’s the date of your party?
a) It’s May 2.
b) It’s on May 2.

 

[5jj]

I prefer (a), but (b) isn't wrong.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello no comma here there.
Would you please help me with the correct answer to the following question? I’m not sure if the preposition is needed.
Thank you. Unnecessary. Thank us after we help you, by clicking on the "Thank" button, found under the "Like" icon.

 

[jutfrank]

In American English, we say May (the) second, not May two.
In British English, we say May the second, not May two.

 

[5jj]

Right, but we write 2 May or May 2,

 

[Rover_KE]

… or we write ‘2nd May‘ and say ‘the second of May’.

 

[Glizdka]

Writing dates is probably my least favorite part of English. Extremely confusing to learners. Pronunciation vs. how it's written, optionality of prepositions and articles, and the whole MM/DD vs. DD/MM thing.

 

[Lisa123]

Thank you for your replies. But all I want to know is which sentence I should use “ It ‘s May 2nd.” or “It’s on May 2nd.” when I answer the question “What’s the date of your party?” Does the preposition “on” need to be added?

 

[probus]

Post number 2 by @5jj and 4 by @jutfrank provide a complete and correct answer to your question. What more can we say?

 

[probus]

As far as I know @Glizdka the USA is the only place in the world that uses the MMDD date format. Certainly we in Canada don't. Also, the format YYYYMMDD has been increasing in popularity over the last thirty or forty years or so.

 

[jutfrank]

But all I want to know is which sentence I should use “ It ‘s May 2nd.” or “It’s on May 2nd.” when I answer the question “What’s the date of your party?” Does the preposition “on” need to be added?

No. There's no need to use a preposition. In fact, I'd say it's wrong, even though lots of people would use it.

The reason I say it's wrong is this: Your birthday and May 2nd are the same thing. It doesn't make sense to say that one day is on another day.

 

[emsr2d2]

When's your birthday?
It's on May 2nd.

What date is your birthday?
It's May 2nd.

Bear in mind, though, that native speakers would simply write "May 2nd" and say "May [the] second".

 

[5jj]

I'd say it's wrong, even though lots of people would use it.

If enough people use it, then can we say it's wrong?

Your birthday and May 2nd are the same thing. It doesn't make sense to say that one day is on another day.

A lot of English doesn't 'make sense' if you subject it to logical analysis.

 

[jutfrank]

If enough people use it, then can we say it's wrong?

Good question for discussion, especially for teachers. A 'no' answer to this question is seriously problematic, I think, as is a 'yes' answer.

A lot of English doesn't 'make sense' if you subject it to logical analysis.

Yes, that's somewhat true. What sways me here, however, is that there's a simpler and perhaps more common way of expressing the thought that does make sense.