Date / Year Ranges
Hello!
I'm trying to find out a consistent set of rules for writing year ranges using the en-dash. Here are examples of the kinds of problem I'm talking about.
There are three possible ways of writing the following date range. Economically, the third option seems best:
1991–1995
1991–95
1991–5
However, in the same text, you might need to write:
1991–2005 (different centuries - showing all four digits)
or
1989–94 (different decades - showing last two digits)
0r
or 1990–1 (following the 0 with an en-dash looks odd, 1990–91 somehow looks better)
I've also heard a rule that you should always list the final two digits when listing years in the 'teens':
2011–12
rather than
2011–2
Could someone help me clear this up? I work as a historian, so am always having to write date ranges...
Thank you!
Top answer
zany panda 881 I'm trying to find out a consistent set of rules for writing year ranges Just be clear and concise. zany panda 881 There are three possible ways of writing the following date range. Economically, the third option seems best:1991–1995; 1991–95; 1991–5 Yes, but there is nothing wrong with the others.
- zany panda 881 I'm trying to find out a consistent set of rules for writing year ranges Just be clear and concise.
- zany panda 881 There are three possible ways of writing the following date range.
- Economically, the third option seems best:1991–1995; 1991–95; 1991–5 Yes, but there is nothing wrong with the others.
- zany panda 881 in the same text, you might need to write:1991–2005 (different centuries - showing all four digits) Of course.
- zany panda 881 or 1989–94 (different decades - showing last two digits) Sure.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
zany panda 881I'm trying to find out a consistent set of rules for writing year ranges
Just be clear and concise.
zany panda 881There are three possible ways of writing the following date range. Economically, the third option seems best:1991–1995; 1991–95; 1991–5
Yes, but there is nothing wrong with the others.
0If you are looking for 'carved in stone' rules about how to write date ranges, there are none. Generally speaking, I would write dates as economically as possible, but it's your call.
0
Related Questions