User:Dl2000/International date formatting

In Wikipedia, the format of dates in Wikipedia articles is governed by Wikipedia:Manual of Style (dates and numbers) (MOS:DATE). Two formats are deemed acceptable for running prose (and often elsewhere):

1. American (or US) format/Month before day is written as {{xt|February 14, 1990}} (comma required), or {{xt|February 14}} when year is omitted.
2. International (or universal) format/Day before month is written as {{xt|14 February 1990}}, or {{xt|14 February}} when year is omitted.

The first style is generally identified as US format.{{cite web | url=http://www.docstyles.com/mlacrib.htm | title=MLA Style Lite for Research Papers | first=Abel | last=Scribe | year=2009 | accessdate=22 July 2010 }} Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook.{{cite book | title=Oxford Guide to Style | isbn=0198691750 | first=Robert | last=Ritter | year=2002 | page=179 | section=7.10.1 }} "In US format..." prefaces the description of dates where the month is placed before day then year.{{cite web | url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/TRANSLATIONSERVICESEXT/Resources/Translation_Style_Guide_English.pdf | title=World Bank Translation Style Guide - English | publisher=World Bank | date=June 2004 | accessdate=12 August 2010 }} Identifies its style specifically as "American practice".

The second style is sometimes referred to as universal or European format. However, its use is adopted by most international-scope bodies (see below), and is also found as a standard in various regions outside Europe e.g. Australia{{cite web | url=http://style.radionational.net.au/?apage=D | title= Online style guide | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation / Radio National | accessdate=22 July 2010 }}{{cite book | url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/downloadhansard/pdf/aphea/Cwealth/Parl%20of%20Australia%20Hansard%20Style%20Guide.pdf | format=PDF | title=Hansard Style Guide | publisher=Commonwealth of Australia | date=June 2005 | accessdate=22 July 2010}} Exceptions in special events which are not dates per se, such as the September 11 attacks or New Zealand.{{cite book | url=http://www.lawfoundation.org.nz/style-guide/nzlsg_2.html#1.2.3 | work=New Zealand Law Style Guide | publisher=New Zealand Law Foundation | accessdate=22 July 2010 | chapter=1.2.3, Numbers and dates}}

MOS:DATE indicates which format is preferable in many cases, but leaves the question open in most cases, particularly for articles without ties to an English-speaking nation.

In an international project such as Wikipedia, there is a need to consider what formatting is most suitable on a global scale.

Although both formats are equally comprehensible to all codes of English, where the 'month' in the date string is not numerical, the pros and cons of each are:-

Advantages of International format:

• More compact, omitting comma for complete dates
• Logical ordering (day then month then year)
• Has significant level of usage in many world regions, and in certain sectors or segments in the USA
• Not subject to a particular national bias, there is no WP:NPOV issue
• Generally the English format of choice for international bodies e.g. [http://www.un.org/en/unpress/ UN], [http://europa.eu/publications/official-documents/index_en.htm EU], [http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/index.htm NATO]

Advantages of American format:

• Has significant level of usage, such as news media (including some British press)

Disadvantages of International format:

• None (WP:IDONTLIKEIT doesn't count)

Disadvantages of American format:

• Extra punctuation
• possible confusion when writing out serial dates or date ranges, especially when the year is represented by two digits.
• 'Illogical' sequence order
• Generally considered an American format, therefore associated with that bias and fails WP:NPOV
• Not preferred by most international bodies

The International format is therefore the superior choice for a global project such as Wikipedia. Its use should be strongly encouraged in cases where the choice of date formatting is open, at least for new articles or articles in which a date format is not yet established. Its adoption should be encouraged by default on new articles, at least other than for U.S. non-military topics.

The issue of retrofitting articles to International format, of course, is a longer-term issue which requires a clearer consensus according to current MOS:DATE policy.

The following items demonstrate usage of international date format by multi-national bodies:

• [http://www.un.org/en/unpress/ United Nations] - particularly see [http://www.unu.edu/HQ/library/resource/UN-correspondence-manual.pdf UN Correspondence Manual]
• [http://ec.europa.eu/translation/writing/style_guides/english/style_guide_en.pdf European Union - English Style Guide - see §3.16]
• [http://web.archive.org/web/20060308092557/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2004/WHO_IMD_PUB_04.1.pdf World Health Organization - see page 7]
• [http://web.archive.org/web/20110722012946/http://dns1.spc.int/pdffilesandpubs/style%20guide.pdf Secretariat of the Pacific Community]
• [http://www.eurocontrol.int/documents/english-style-guide Eurocontrol]
• [http://www.wmo.int/pages/pubsguides/documents/WMO_STYLE_GUIDE_08.pdf World Meterological Association]
• [http://www.caribbeanredcross.org/disasterm/downloads/eng-styleguide-mar08.pdf International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies]
• [http://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120201082521458_IPC_Style_Guide+July+2010.pdf International Paralympic Committee]
• [http://www.iasociety.org/Web/WebContent/File/IAS%20Style%20Guide%20-%20V%203%20FINAL%20May%202009.pdf International AIDS Society]
• [http://www.ieee.org/about/webteam/styleguide/mainsite_content.html IEEE]

One international institution uses US format:

• [http://siteresources.worldbank.org/TRANSLATIONSERVICESEXT/Resources/Translation_Style_Guide_English.pdf World Bank] (clearly identifies its style as "American practice")

For reference, the existing standard generally indicates:

• Articles with strong U.S. ties should use American format; exceptions apply to military articles and possibly other specialty topics
• Articles with strong ties to most other English-speaking nations should use International format
• All other articles may use either format consistently; this includes articles with strong Canadian ties, as a clearly stipulated case
• Date formatting should be consistent within an article

{{reflist}}

Category:User essays