How to Write Dates Correctly in Sentences (Grammar Rules)

Time may be a funny thing, but writing dates correctly in sentences is no laughing matter. There are rules that need to be observed, and commas that may or may not need to be inserted.

So let's look at how to write dates correctly in sentences.

Before we get too far along in this process, I'm going to focus on writing out months (no abbreviations) and using numerals for the numbers. I'll add a little note about abbreviations below, but it's basically the same rules.

(Why the Oxford Comma, or Serial Comma, Is So Cool.)

So let's start with the basics. How do I write a date? OK, let's use the official cinematic release date of the movie Jaws, which was 6/20/1975 in the United States. If we want to write this date out, we would write June 20, 1975. If we wanted to write out the date in a more general way that just included the month and year, we would write June 1975.

The example above gives a hint for how to write a date at the end of the sentence. Writers should write out the month, give a space before writing the numeral for the day, follow that with a comma and space, and then, write the numeral for the year followed by a period.

Correct: Jaws was released in the United States on June 20, 1975.
Incorrect: Jaws was released in the United States on June 20 1975.

If we wanted to be more general, we'd do the same thing, except we'd remove the numeral for the day and the comma and space that follow it.

Correct: Jaws was released in the United States in June 1975.
Incorrect: Jaws was released in the United States in June, 1975.

Writing dates at the end of sentences is a piece of cake, but what about if a date pops up in the middle? Well, it's actually pretty easy to handle there too. If there is a numeral for the day, remember to offset your year with a comma before and after the year numeral.

Correct: Jaws was released in the United States on June 20, 1975, and overseas in December 1975.
Incorrect: Jaws was released in the United States on June 20, 1975 and overseas in December 1975.

If there's not a numeral for the day (that is, just month and numeral for the year), then no extra commas are necessary.

Correct: Jaws was released overseas in December 1975 and in the United States on June 20, 1975.
Incorrect: Jaws was released overseas in December 1975, and in the United States on June 20, 1975.

So you noticed that I changed prepositions? Of course you did (or you can act like you did). There is actually a right and wrong time to use each of these prepositions when writing out dates.

In is used when writing out general dates like months and years. 

Correct: Jaws was released overseas in December 1975.
Incorrect: Jaws was released overseas on December 1975.

Meanwhile, on is used when writing specific days, dates, and holidays.

Correct: Jaws was released in the United States on June 20, 1975.
Correct: Jaws was released in the United States on Friday.
Incorrect: Jaws was released in the United States in June 20, 1975.

All the rules above apply when abbreviating the month when writing out dates. The only difference is that instead of writing out "June," as an example, you would write "Jun." with the period after the first three letters.

Here's the easy way to abbreviate the months:

Of course, consistency is not always a consistent feature when it comes to grammar. Some style guides do not abbreviate June or July (treating it like May) and for some odd reason even jump to a four-letter abbreviation for September (as Sept.) and only September. 

If someone can invent a thing like daylight savings time, I guess they can get weird with abbreviations too. So just be aware if you're supposed to use a specific style guide. If not, make your life easier and either spell out the month or use the three-letter abbreviations.

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No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.

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