Commas in Dates: Simple Rules & Useful Example

comma in dates

Knowing how to use commas in dates will make you stand out as a brilliant writer. Many people find it challenging to use punctuation marks, and they end up making errors. For instance, technical composing has gotten more pervasive on the web and in resume building. While it will, in general, keep a similar language structure rules as APA Style and the Chicago Manual of Style, it may be an exciting subject to explore effectively in a vast body of the content. Comprehending the standards of how to isolate dates in innovative composition with a comma or semicolon can hold you back from making a blunder, identify botches as they happen, and in general, smooth out your piece.

Not understanding how to compose data appropriately can be a precarious undertaking, particularly when you compose a date on a greeting card or a proper report. Is a comma required? Or on the other hand, do you need to utilize a period? What comes first, the month or the date? The vast majority of people get confounded about utilizing accentuation when composing dates.

In this article, you will learn straightforward standards on the best way to utilize commas in date.

What is a Comma?

As one of the punctuation marks, a comma is utilized to show a pause in a sentence or separate diverse rundown components. When your period is comprised of two sections, then you ought to recognize them with a pause when the parts are both in numbers or words.

Punctuating Dates and Times

Here are the accentuation rules on the most proficient method to intersperse references to date and time:

rules for comma

Don’t place a comma between a month and year: “The gathering was held in October 1990.” a similar structure is right for alluding to vacation in a specific period: “I’m yet to see him since Easter 2019.” If you want to include a day, separate the year from day and month: He attended the July 25, 2018, training.”

Utilize a comma separate a day from the specific date: “They conducted the meeting on Saturday, July 20.” If you want the sentence to proceed, another comma is needed: “The meeting was conducted on Saturday, July 20, and the minutes were circulated the following day.”

Don’t place a comma between a date and the time when an event begins: “The training is planned for September 10 at 11 a.m.” The sentence can continue without requiring any punctuation except if another autonomous condition is presented: “The training is booked for September 10 at 11 a.m., and it will go on for five hours.

Be that as it may, as in the second model in the subsequent section, the mix of day, date, and time needs hierarchical accentuation: “The training is booked for Saturday, September 10, at 11 a.m.”

“The gathering is booked for September 10, 9-11 a.m.” If you want the sentence to continue, put a comma after the time range: “The gathering is planned for September 10, 9-11 a.m., and will include a visitor.” A reference day, date, and time need commas between them: “The gathering is scheduled for Saturday, September 10, 9-11 a.m.”

The Grammatically Correct Way to Write Dates

Here are the various standards to assist you with composing dates:

Right Grammar

There are decisions in the English language that state how to compose a date. Even though you might be interested in realizing that sentence structure rules apply to something as straightforward as composing a date, don’t overlook gaining proficiency with the correct use. You may place yourself in a troublesome circumstance if you miswrite a date, like a significant gathering or for your wedding greeting. Hence, it is smarter to be amazing with regards to composing a date. Here is a straightforward rule on the most proficient method to compose linguistically right dates.

We utilize ordinal and cardinal numbers when composing dates. We utilize ordinal numbers when we write in design – first, second, third, and so forth. We utilize cardinal numbers when we write in design – 1, 2, and 3, etc. When writing in American English, the correct method to compose a date is May 1, 2016. The month consistently precedes the date and year.

In any case, in a proclamation, you need to utilize ordinal numbers first and compose. For instance, the class will be held on the third of May 2016.

Punctuation Rules

Comma – Most of us are mistaken for the use of accentuations in dates. In the model above, unmistakably, a comma is utilized before the year. Be that as it may, in articulation, it is composed as follows:

We welcome you to go along with us on May 1, 2016 (,) for festivities.

It is satisfactory to add a comma after the year; however, it is linguistically right regardless of whether you don’t add it.

Punctuation – When we contract years, rather than composing 1970, you can compose the ’70s. The vast majority of us will, in general, utilize punctuation when we compose the full structure – the 1970’s. Nonetheless, this is an inaccurate method to compose and the right way in the 1970s.

Comma Considerations

The comma has a few helpful routes in technical composition for separate dates. It appears to be fundamental, yet it can convey some significance if a comma is incidentally discarded. A comma is utilized between the day of the month and the year, as of June 1, 2018. If the date goes before an idea, a comma is utilized after the year, too, as, on June 1, 2018, the uprising started. The comma is excluded if just the month and year are in play; for example, June 2018 saw solid development.

Semicolon Solutions

A semicolon is utilized to help the reader or speaker in distinctive dates that are in an arrangement. For example, in the accompanying sentence: “The development rate kept on increasing quarterly, June 1, 2017; September 1, 2017; and January 1, 2018.” The semicolon differentiates each date as its own significant subject, assisting in passing on the information more clearly.

Special cases and Rules to Know

It tends to be muddled when dates and numerals ought to or ought not to be isolated by a comma or semicolon. For example, don’t utilize numerals or a comma when a number shows up preceding another number as a component of a similar sentence, like twelve 45 plates. If a progression of numbers is worked out, depending on numerals, making a reasonable and compact sentence that is simple on the reader, like 3 men, 20 utilitarian projects, and 50 seats, made the framework complete. The beginning of a sentence ought to never start with a numeral.

The primary standard to work out all numbers under 10 has a couple of special cases. Numbers are utilized with measures, dates, times, page numbers, rates, and cash. Any number that is more prominent than 9 ought to be written in numerals. Hyphens should be utilized between the number and the unit of measure to adjust a thing, such as an 8-year-old kid or a 5-pound block. Divisions are constantly worked out as numerals, as are decimals with semicolons after the numeral on the off chance that it is in an arrangement.

What are the 8 Rules for Commas?

Here are the 8 guidelines for commas

guidelines for comma

  • Utilize a comma to isolate autonomous conditions

Rule: Use a comma before an organizing combination (and, yet, yet, along these lines, etc.).

She strolled up the road, and afterwards, she walked down.

  • Utilize it upon an initial condition or expression

When Jane was about to press, her feline stumbled on the string.

  • Utilize it between items in an arrangement 

She purchased bread, milk, and sugar today. (arrangement of words)

He promised to be a decent young boy, that he would not bully his sibling, and that he not sneak out of school. (arrangement of conditions)

  • Use commas to separate nonrestrictive statements

Dennis Brown, whose ride you enjoy, will have a roadshow one week from now. John, who went through the most recent three days fishing, is back at work once more. (nonrestrictive)

  • Utilize a comma to separate appositives

Thomas Brown, the Business writer, is well known for his discourses.

The writer Brown is well known for his discourses. (no appositive)

  • Utilize a comma to demonstrate the direct location

Rule: When you speak in a sentence name the individual to whom you are talking, your audience’s tending is called direct location. Direct location is demonstrated by utilizing a comma or commas, contingent on its position inside the sentence.

I think, John, you may not be right.

John, I figure you may not be right.

I figure you may not be right, John.

  • Use commas to set off direct citations

James exclaimed, “I detest shows due to their loud music.”

“I detest shows due to their loud music,” she said.

“I despise shows,” said James, “due to their loud music.”

  • Utilize commas with dates, location, titles, and numbers

The year is separated from the remainder of the sentence with a couple of commas. Model:

On January 22, 2015, orders were conveyed for the capture of Sea.

Rules for addresses: Commas separate the components of a location or spot name. A postal district, notwithstanding, isn’t gone before by a comma. Models:

Peter Kenneth was brought into the world in New York, USA, in 2002.

Kindly post the letter to Roberto Carlos at 700 Darl Street, New York, IL 6000.

Where the title follows a name, separate it from the rest of the sentence utilizing a comma

Mary Peterson, Dr, has won an award.

Rules for numbers: Where numbers are more than four digits long, use commas to isolate them into groups. If numbers are only four digits, a comma is optional Models:

4,655 [or 4655]

555,111

7,222,333

Composing Dates and Times

Guideline: The accompanying models are applicable when utilizing dates:

The gatherings are planned for May 1.

The gatherings are planned for the 1st of May.

People play stunts on them on April 1.

The first of April bothers a few groups. (Some really like to work it out: The first of April)

Rule: There are varying arrangements for communicating for many years utilizing numerals. Some compose the 1970s and the ’70s; others compose the 1970’s and the 70’s. Be that as it may, utilizing two punctuations (the ‘ ’80s) is off-kilter and isn’t suggested.

Right:

In the ’70s, the company’s performance increased.

In the 1970s, the company’s performance increased.

In the 1980s, the company’s performance increased.

Not Advised:

In the ’70s, the company’s performance increased

Rule: Some scholars explain the hour of the day; others lean toward numbers.

Model: He wakes up at five-forty preceding the children.

Model: The child awakens at 6 AM.

Rule: Some utilization numerals with the hour of the day when specific occasions are being stressed.

Model: His departure is at 7:30 a.m.

Model: Please show up by 8:25 a.m. sharp.

Rule: It is more clear to utilize early afternoon and 12 PM instead of 12:00 p.m. or then again 12:00 a.m.

Note: You may utilize AM and PM, A.M. furthermore, P.M., am and pm, or a.m. also, p.m.

Some put a space after the numeral; others don’t.

Model: He departs at 8:30 a.m.

Model: He departs at 8:30 am.

Model: Kindly show up by 8:30 A.M. exactly.

Rule: date and time ranges.

Model (utilizing an en run by The Chicago Manual of Style. The en run shows up to and including, or through):

The training will occur from May 25–October 25

Model (utilizing a hyphen):

The training will happen from May 25- October 25.

Model (sensibly clear): The training will happen from May 25 to October 25. The vast majority would decipher the training to start on May 25 and stretch out to October 25. Be that as it may, think about this sentence:

They are visiting from May 25 to October 25.

Will the guests withdraw on May 25 or remaining through October 25?

Model (clear): The will visit from May 25 through October 25.

Avoid utilizing a hyphen were from and between are used.

Bad model: They will visit on May 25, 2021, from 1:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.