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In writing, I have always believed I can use day numbers without the "th" at the end. I know they are pronounced, but have been taught I can write them either with or without this "th" at the end. Is this correct? And if so, is one of them considered to be better?

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Possible duplicate of Date formatting in written English. –  RegDwigнt Jun 11 '11 at 14:07

4 Answers 4

up vote 9 down vote accepted

You can write either.

I will arrive in California on June 15.

I will arrive in California on June 15th.

There is no real difference in meaning between the two.

To refer to the date without the month, however, you need to add the "-th".

I will arrive in California on the 15th.

You also need the "-th" to invert the order:

I will arrive in California on the 15th of June.

Although I believe in British English it is acceptable to write:

I will arrive in Hereford on 15 June.

(British native speakers, please feel free to correct me on this. I am sure I have heard it and read this usage, but can't say for certain how common it is.)

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It's certainly ok to write it that way as you will see from the newspapers and the BBC but we still say the fifteenth of June. I think we do anyway, I do at least. –  z7sg Ѫ Jun 11 '11 at 14:09
@z7sg: Thanks for drawing the distinction. –  Robusto Jun 11 '11 at 14:15
15 June is pretty normal. I frequently also say it that way. –  Marcin Jun 11 '11 at 14:20

I'm not so sure the "th" is even pronounced any more. I certainly hear people just saying "June fifteen" when referring to a date.

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You cannot use "June 15" in British English, it has no meaning. "June 15th" is correct although if you include the year then the day must come before the month of course.

In American English I think anything goes.

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Can I write June 15 instead of June 15th?

Yes, you can. Both forms are equally correct. Some swear by one or the other, but those are personal or institutional dogmas.

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protected by tchrist Apr 10 at 4:30


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