Using Dates Time in Your Writing Spelling and

Using Dates & Time in Your Writing Spelling and Punctuation Rules You Should Already Be Using continued!

Rule #1: • When a date is made up of more than two parts use commas to separate: – Day of week and month – Day of month and year – Year and rest of sentence • I was born in June 1974 at the Harrisburg Hospital. • I was born on June 19, 1974, at the Harrisburg Hospital. (exception = …on June 19 of 1974, at …) • I was born on Tuesday, June 19, 1974, at the Harrisburg Hospital.

Rule #2: • Only use the superscripts st, th, rd, etc…when the day of the month does NOT immediately follow the day of the week or month name. – Incorrect = I was born on Friday, October 13 th , 2006, at Harrisburg Hospital. – Correct = I was born on Friday the 13 th , October 2006, at Harrisburg Hospital. – Correct = The 1 st of April is always April Fool’s Day. – Correct = The meeting is scheduled for the 30 th of June.

Rule # 3: Decades • When expressing decades, you can… – Spell them out in lowercase • During the eighties and nineties, the U. S. economy grew. – Write them in incomplete numerals (with an apostrophe before the numeral, but not before the s!) • Incorrect = During the ’ 80’s and ‘ 90’s, the U. S. economy grew. • Correct = During the ‘ 80 s and ‘ 90 s, the U. S economy grew. – Write them in complete numerals (again…no apostrophe between the year and s) • During the 1980 s and 1990 s, the U. S economy grew.

Rule #4 - Time • Writing time in text can be done both in numerals and spelled out. – She gets up at 4: 30 AM to feed the baby. – She gets up at four thirty to feed the baby. • When the word o’clock is used, the time must be spelled out… – Incorrect = She wakes up at 6 o’clock to feed the baby. – Correct = She wakes up at six o’clock to feed the baby.

Rule #5 – Time cont. • Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being used or when AM or PM is used. – Monica’s flight leaves at 6: 22 AM. – Please arrive by 12: 35 sharp. – She had a 7: 00 PM deadline.

Rule #6 – Time cont. • Use noon and midnight rather than 12: 00 PM and 12: 00 AM… – Incorrect = The deadline for the paper is 12: 00 AM. – Correct = The deadline for the paper is midnight. – Incorrect = We eat lunch every day at 12: 00 PM. – Correct = We eat lunch every day at noon.