Is it incorrect English grammatical usage to include "th", "nd", or "rd" when writing dates?

Question

For instance, I edit the newsletter and flyer for my daughter's school's PTF. They are meant for consumption by the general public - parents, guardians, and even teachers - so I write dates like "October 19th", "January 2nd", and "July 3rd". The woman who actually compiles all the inputs and puts everything together claims this is incorrect usage and has asked me not to change her dates (i.e. "October 19", "January 2", "July 3"). I can't find anything online that tells me one way or the other which is correct and which isn't, and my Concise English Style Guide from my long-ago college days is buried in the attic. Personally I think since the papers are meant for the "casual reader" my way works better - it's more "readable" - but if there is a hard-and-fast rule I'm willing to live by it. Citations of where I can find such elucidations will be greatly appreciated in your answers.

Oh yeah, "Let's Go Mets"!

Answer 1

I've seen it both ways.there probably aren't any hard and fast rules unless someone wants to get mostrously anal about it.

Answer 2

Don't use ordinal numbers while writing full date ie. You don't say: 15th January 2014 or 15th January. You say: 15 January 2014 or 15 January
Use them while not using full date or while using 'of'. Eg: on 15th/15th of this month/15th of January there will be a program...however the latter is used more while speaking than in writing.

Answer 3

Either way is correct. It's a matter of personal preference. These days, less is better. For instance, when we type on a computer, we use only one space after a full stop, whereas we always used two on a typewriter. Underlining is another thing of the past. Now we put things in italics instead. Speech is often enclosed with only one quote mark instead of two. So I'd suggest you update your thinking and accept the dates as suggested by the woman who compiles. (Also, we don't refer to September 11th do we? It's always September 11.)

Answer 4

Neither version is incorrect, your version is simply more formal. As far as readability goes, I'd say it's a toss-up. You could poll your readership and see what they prefer. A practical argument that the compiler's version has going for it is that it saves you 2 characters per number which across a whole page may mean the difference between a sentence wrapping to the next page or not.

Answer 5

Proper Grammar For Dates

Answer 6

I think you are only supposed to write the "th" "nd" "rd" parts if the number comes before the month.

as in 19th October or 19th of October.

It's not more readible imo. It doesn't even matter. You can still see the date, the number, and that's all that matters.
Most people will probably say the "th" part out loud in their heads anyway.
I think it does seem a bit unnecessary to write out. It seems to cause a bit of clutter.

Answer 7

Simply ask her to provide you with something to back up her statement that it's incorrect and/or inappropriate for the situation. If she can't, do it however you want - you are the editor, after all. That is, unless you risk losing her working for you ... In that case I would recommend giving it some consideration. But chances are, since there are teachers reading it and they haven't said anything, it's probably not a problem.

Answer 8

Your usage is more easily readable in my opinion. A school newsletter isn't really the place for a grammar lesson, barring totally BAD grammar. Sounds like the person who wrote it is a bit of a control freak. Since YOU are the editor, however, it's YOUR choice as to how the final product should look. I say stick to your guns.

Answer 9

If you are writing dates, you do not use ordinal numbers. Use the PTF secretary's format. Basically, using 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. is very informal. When using ordinal numbers you are to spell out the ordinal. And writing "October fourteenth" doesn't look "readable," does it?

Answer 10

any time you add letters to a number you initiate a contraction. Like can't for can not, won't for will not; However, when you add to a number you are combining two forms of language that do not correlate. So it should follow literal rule that 3rd is to be written as third, or capitalized Third when expressing a date or time. In casual writting, 3rd is ok as is 4th, but in formal writting accepted by schools, universities or written text to groups it should follow the literal rule without the contraction as a number, or written as third and not 3rd. To informal groups, or singular recipent any form is acceptable.

Answer 11

In casual writing such as my email, I will use the "th", "rd", and "nd" as I would in speech. My spell check on my computer hates it because it can't make a word out of it. Other than this, there is no rule that states it is improper to use this in casual writing.