A clear, practical guide to how to write the date in English, including the differences between American and British formats, how to read dates out loud, how to write dates formally and informally, and how to avoid the most common mistakes learners make.
Writing dates in English can feel confusing because the order changes depending on the country. But once you learn the main patterns, everything becomes much easier.
1. The Two Main Date Formats in English
English uses two common formats: American and British.
The order is different, so be careful.
American English (month–day–year)
This is the format used in the United States.
Order:
Month → Day → Year
Examples:
- January 5, 2025
- March 14, 2024
- July 1, 2023
Numeric example:
- 03/14/2024 (March 14)
British English (day–month–year)
Used in the UK and many Commonwealth countries.
Order:
Day → Month → Year
Examples:
- 5 January 2025
- 14 March 2024
- 1 July 2023
Numeric example:
- 14/03/2024 (14 March)
Quick Tip
If you’re writing for an international audience, avoid numbers only because 03/04/2025 could mean:
- March 4 (US)
- 3 April (UK)
Spell out the month to avoid confusion.
2. How to Write Dates in Words
Here are the most common ways to write full dates clearly.
American English
- January 5, 2025
- February 12, 2024
- August 20, 2023
Notice the comma after the day:
Month + Day + , + Year
British English
- 5 January 2025
- 12 February 2024
- 20 August 2023
No comma needed.
Both are correct depending on the region.
3. How to Say Dates Out Loud in English
When speaking dates, English uses ordinal numbers:
- 1 → first
- 2 → second
- 3 → third
- 4 → fourth
- 5 → fifth
… - 21 → twenty-first
- 31 → thirty-first
Spoken Examples
- “January fifth, twenty twenty-five.” (US style)
- “The fifth of January, twenty twenty-five.” (UK style)
When writing, you don’t need ordinal endings:
❌ January 5th, 2025
✔ January 5, 2025
(Writing “5th” is common informally, but not required.)
4. Writing the Date Formally vs Informally
Different situations use different levels of formality.
Formal
- 5 January 2025 (more common internationally)
- January 5, 2025
Used in:
- Business letters
- Academic writing
- Invitations
- Official documents
Informal
- Jan 5, 2025
- 5 Jan 2025
- 1/5/25 (be careful with these)
Used in:
- Text messages
- Notes
- Personal reminders
Short Month Abbreviations
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
5. Writing the Date with the Day of the Week
You can add the day for extra clarity.
American English
- Monday, January 5, 2025
British English
- Monday, 5 January 2025
No comma after the weekday in British style.
Spoken Examples
- “Monday, January fifth.”
- “Monday the fifth of January.”
6. Numerical Date Formats (Be Careful!)
There are several numeric systems, and they can cause confusion.
American (MM/DD/YYYY)
03/04/2025 = March 4, 2025
British (DD/MM/YYYY)
03/04/2025 = 3 April 2025
ISO International Standard (YYYY-MM-DD)
2025-04-03 = 3 April 2025
This format is used in:
- International business
- Programming
- Databases
If you want to be 100% clear worldwide, use the ISO format or spell out the month.
7. How NOT to Write the Date (Common Mistakes)
Here are errors English learners often make and how to fix them.
| Incorrect | Why | Correct |
| 5th of January of 2025 | Too many prepositions | 5 January 2025 |
| January 05th, 2025 | Ordinal not needed after writing | January 5, 2025 |
| 2025/5/1 (general writing) | Confusing internationally | 1 May 2025 |
| 14.03.25 | Only used in specific regions | 14 March 2025 |
Yak Tip
When writing for people from multiple countries, use:
5 January 2025
or
January 5, 2025
Clear. Simple. Zero confusion.
8. Practice: Read and Write These Dates
Try writing these in both formats.
| Meaning | American Style | British Style |
| 10 April 2024 | April 10, 2024 | 10 April 2024 |
| 2 September 2025 | September 2, 2025 | 2 September 2025 |
| 13 January 2026 | January 13, 2026 | 13 January 2026 |
| 31 December 2023 | December 31, 2023 | 31 December 2023 |
Yak’s Final Chewables
Learning how to write the date in English is mostly about remembering the big difference between American and British formats — and knowing when to spell out the month to avoid confusion. With a few simple rules and plenty of examples, you’ll be writing clear, natural English dates in any situation.
And just remember: yaks always write dates ISO-style because they’re nerds about clarity. Very professional yaks.