Written Dates?

Question

Why do Americans write the date as 09/11 instead of 11/09 for 11 September like we do in UK.
Surely if we say 11th Sept, shouldn't it be written in the same order?

Answer 1

Being a purist, I like to see things expressed in a logical manner. Therefore, dates should be either "Day/month year" - as in Brit. Eng., or "Year/month/day" - as in Chinese. Using the order "Month/day/year" is S T U P I D!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Well, it's because we say September 11th, 2001 when speaking.

We never say 11th September. In some formal situations we say "The 11th of September" - but that's not the natural way of saying it.

We use what we're used to.

Also, having the month first is logically the best way to write it (especially on electronic devices that order things by number). If you have the day first, the order will be Jan 1, Feb 1, March 1, etc....then Jan 2, Feb 2, Mar 2.....

The most logical way to write it would be YYYY/MM/DD, which is the way they write it in Japan. So, I think Japan wins on this one...(and any other place that writes it this way)

Answer 3

In the English of the 18th and 19th centuries, the normal order was month, day, year. It was only in the mid-19th century that we in Britain started changing over to the more logical order: day, month, year. And that changeover has never been complete, which is why, in British English, we still have the choice between "the 11th of September" and "September the 11th".

In the USA, they have stuck to the older form. It's just like they still pronounce the R in words like 'first', 'word', 'air force' etc. and still use fahrenheit, pounds, feet, pints etc. and haven't changed over to the metric system.

Answer 4

Septmeber 11th, 11th September...we use both. As long as you know what is meant that is fine.
English usage is probably more logic DAY MONTH YEAR
rather than month day year.

Similarly in cricket. Aussies say 1 for 5 when one wicket has fallen for 5 runs. We say 5 for 1

Answer 5

Actually, 911 was adopted because of the fact it is the same as the emergency phone number, which EVERYBODY picked up on that day.
It sure did in Halifax where a s--tload of air travellers landed that day.

Answer 6

To me in Australia that's clever to present day the Day first because of the fact that's how that's with dates in letters - Monday 31 December 2007 (as an instance) that's written in increasing gadgets - day/month/year. on line i've got taken to writing the month as a word because of the fact it reduces confusion to the readers. The "30 days" clarification is a physically powerful one, i did no longer understand that grew to become into why, that's clever - besides the reality that i'm no longer approximately to alter my date-writing; my American watch used to truly annoy me like that!

Answer 7

You asked why so I tell you because it's the way we always have. It's simply habit and the pattern of the culture.

However, you'll be happy to know my date on my camera is set the way you write it. :-)

Answer 8

do you not realise Americans have to be different from EVERYONE ELSE ....