american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Dec 4th 2006, 10:22 pm
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles Ca
Posts: 375
american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Out of interest does anyone know why america persists in having their crazy date format, different to every country in the world I think.
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
Dec 4th 2006, 10:27 pm
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 97
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by angelman
Out of interest does anyone know why america persists in having their crazy date format, different to every country in the world I think.
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
Dec 4th 2006, 10:37 pm
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by angelman
Out of interest does anyone know why america persists in having their crazy date format, different to every country in the world I think.
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
Its so hard trying to read dates here. When I try to read my bank statements its really hard to make head nor tail of them. Not because they are different to the UK and the world but because the day which is generally of more interest than the month and the item that changes more frequently is buried in the middle of the date.
How did this happen, why?
and many other mysteries...
i am always surprised that the customs form required on entry to the usa asks for date first followed by the month but then it all changes again to the usual mth/day/yr ..dunno but it sure is confusing
Dec 4th 2006, 10:47 pm
#4
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by TruBrit
i am always surprised that the customs form required on entry to the usa asks for date first followed by the month but then it all changes again to the usual mth/day/yr ..dunno but it sure is confusing
At 25 I think I'm too old to change to the US version...so I stick with dd/mm/year
Dec 4th 2006, 11:11 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 387
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by TruBrit
i am always surprised that the customs form required on entry to the usa asks for date first followed by the month but then it all changes again to the usual mth/day/yr ..dunno but it sure is confusing
I always use the full name of the month in spoken and written communication. It avoids confusion.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:11 am
#6
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
I also wish they would use the Continental clock on their timetables too.
Last Friday when I was at Penn Station in NYC drinking coffee an Irish couple approached me and asked me if I could help them with their printed Amtrak timetable as they were planning to go to Boston during the weekend.
The format wasn't so straightforward....I had to constantly check that I was reading off the AM trains rather than the PM ones. It would have been so much easier if it had say, 1600 hrs instead of 4.00.
Last Friday when I was at Penn Station in NYC drinking coffee an Irish couple approached me and asked me if I could help them with their printed Amtrak timetable as they were planning to go to Boston during the weekend.
The format wasn't so straightforward....I had to constantly check that I was reading off the AM trains rather than the PM ones. It would have been so much easier if it had say, 1600 hrs instead of 4.00.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:13 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,019
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by Englishmum
I also wish they would use the Continental clock on their timetables too.
Last Friday when I was at Penn Station in NYC drinking coffee an Irish couple approached me and asked me if I could help them with their printed Amtrak timetable as they were planning to go to Boston during the weekend.
The format wasn't so straightforward....I had to constantly check that I was reading off the AM trains rather than the PM ones. It would have been so much easier if it had say, 1600 hrs instead of 4.00.
Last Friday when I was at Penn Station in NYC drinking coffee an Irish couple approached me and asked me if I could help them with their printed Amtrak timetable as they were planning to go to Boston during the weekend.
The format wasn't so straightforward....I had to constantly check that I was reading off the AM trains rather than the PM ones. It would have been so much easier if it had say, 1600 hrs instead of 4.00.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:20 am
#8
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by TruBrit
yep that too, i always use the 24hr clock...makes life easier except over here
Army time as it's known here.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:23 am
#9
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
Army time as it's known here.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:24 am
#10
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
At 25 I think I'm too old to change to the US version...so I stick with dd/mm/year
Dec 5th 2006, 12:27 am
#11
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by BigDavyG
Its not just the yanks who are getting their numbers back-to-front it seems
I'm deeply hurt by that remark...nothing that a lemon choccy bar wouldn't fix.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:47 am
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: SC
Posts: 4,153
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Have you heard the m give out the time on TV. It is now 52 minutes after the hour. Well yes, but I think 8 minutes to is much better imo.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:47 am
#13
Thinking about it
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Mid-West
Posts: 9,435
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
I'm deeply hurt by that remark...nothing that a lemon choccy bar wouldn't fix.
(Though I plan to reload in the near future)
Dec 5th 2006, 12:49 am
#14
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
Originally Posted by BigDavyG
She gone
(Though I plan to reload in the near future)
(Though I plan to reload in the near future)
That's what I'm counting on.
Dec 5th 2006, 12:56 am
#15
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles Ca
Posts: 375
Re: american date format - why do they have to be different to everyone in the world
a weird thing I encountered here at work was being asked to meet someone at 10 of 4. I asked what that meant, they looked at me as if I was crazy. Logically to me it seemed that 10 of 4 would probably mean 4:10 actually it means 3:50.
Originally Posted by Jerseygirl
That's what I'm counting on.