Times and dates: Difference between revisions
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then the year in full. State dates, and in particular deadlines, clearly. Avoid | then the year in full. State dates, and in particular deadlines, clearly. Avoid | ||
statements like ‘in two weeks time’. Never add ‘st’, ‘nd’ or ‘th’ after the day. | statements like ‘in two weeks time’. Never add ‘st’, ‘nd’ or ‘th’ after the day. | ||
Examples of the general rules: | Examples of the general rules: | ||
• on 1 August | • on 1 August | ||
• Friday 1 August 2003 | • Friday 1 August 2003 | ||
• 1990s, the 90s | • 1990s, the 90s | ||
• 1989 –1993 (note no space between the number and the en dash) | • 1989 –1993 (note no space between the number and the en dash) | ||
• 2004/2005 to show a financial year | • 2004/2005 to show a financial year | ||
• twentieth century | • twentieth century | ||
• nineteenth-century building stone (hyphenated when an adjective) | • nineteenth-century building stone (hyphenated when an adjective) | ||
• use BC, AD, BP: note that it is 55 BC, and 10 000 years BP, | • use BC, AD, BP: note that it is 55 BC, and 10 000 years BP, | ||
but AD 1978. | but AD 1978. | ||
• 2nd century BC | • 2nd century BC | ||
• Ma for millions of years, not My | • Ma for millions of years, not My | ||
Times should be given using the 24 hour clock: 00:00–23:59 not followed by | Times should be given using the 24 hour clock: 00:00–23:59 not followed by | ||
‘hours’. An international context may require a time zone too, such as GMT. | ‘hours’. An international context may require a time zone too, such as GMT. | ||
[[category:Writers' guide]] | [[category:Writers' guide]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:51, 18 September 2013
Dates should be given as day as a number, then month (avoid abbreviating), then the year in full. State dates, and in particular deadlines, clearly. Avoid statements like ‘in two weeks time’. Never add ‘st’, ‘nd’ or ‘th’ after the day.
Examples of the general rules:
• on 1 August
• Friday 1 August 2003
• 1990s, the 90s
• 1989 –1993 (note no space between the number and the en dash)
• 2004/2005 to show a financial year
• twentieth century
• nineteenth-century building stone (hyphenated when an adjective)
• use BC, AD, BP: note that it is 55 BC, and 10 000 years BP, but AD 1978.
• 2nd century BC
• Ma for millions of years, not My
Times should be given using the 24 hour clock: 00:00–23:59 not followed by ‘hours’. An international context may require a time zone too, such as GMT.