Wikipedia:Overview of date formatting guidelines: Difference between revisions

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{{supplement|interprets=date formatting guidelines for Wikipedia|WP:DATEOVER|WP:DATEOVERVIEW|WP:DMY|WP:MDY}}

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Wikipedia has's [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Dates, months and years|guidelines for formatting dates]] ([[MOS:DATEFORMAT]]), divided into various sections. They set out the acceptablethree date formats thatacceptable may befor useduse in Wikipedia articles, namely:

*'''Day–month–year''' (DMY) format—e.g., {{xt|{{#time:jCURRENTDAY}} F{{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} Y{{CURRENTYEAR}}}} or {{xt|{{#time:jCURRENTDAY}} M{{CURRENTMONTHABBREV}} Y{{CURRENTYEAR}}}};

*'''Month–day–year''' (MDY) format—e.g., {{xt|{{#time:FCURRENTMONTHNAME}} j{{CURRENTDAY}}, Y{{CURRENTYEAR}}}} or {{xt|{{#time:MCURRENTMONTHABBREV}} j{{CURRENTDAY}}, Y{{CURRENTYEAR}}}};

*'''Year–month–day''' (YMD) format—e.g., {{xt|{{#time:YCURRENTYEAR}}-m{{CURRENTMONTH}}-d{{CURRENTDAY}}}}—only used(also incalled referencesthe and"all-numeric" format; used placesonly where space is limited (e.g., such as in references and some tables) and infoboxes, but not in prosearticle text proper).

The guidelines provide additional guidance on deciding whichappropriate format shouldfor be used ina particular cases.situation is Itdetermined canby sometimesthe be(somewhat confusing) tointeraction understandbetween whichthree sectionssub-provisions toof apply in particular casesMOS:DATEFORMAT. The priority betweenamong these provisions can be summarised as follows:

#'''[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Consistency|Consistency]] ([[MOS:DATEUNIFY]]):''' Each article should use either DMY or MDY format consistently, ''except'' access/archivethat datesin (andreferences, inthe someformat casesused publicationby dates)the incitation referencesstyle maychosen usefor YMDthe article is used consistently. However, the only all-formattednumeric datesstyle allowed in citations is YMD.

#'''[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Strong national ties to a topic|Strong national ties to a topic]] ([[MOS:DATETIES]]):''' Articles on topics with strong ties to a particular English-speaking countrynation should generally use the date format most commonly used in that nation. This generally means: {{Unordered list

#*Articles|articles on US topics use MDY format, ''except'' articles on modern US military topics use DMY in line with modern military usage;

#*Articles|articles on Canadian topics may use either DMY or MDY;

#*Articles|articles on topics relating to other English-speaking countries use DMY.

#:}} There may be other exceptions for particular topic areas.<p>Note that MOS:DATETIES does ''not'' apply to topics related to non-English-speaking countries. For example, articles on French topics do not necessarily use DMY, even though DMY is the predominant format in France.</p>

# '''[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers#Retaining existing format|Retaining existing format]] ([[MOS:DATERET]]):''' If an article has evolved using predominantly one format, don't change it ''unlessexcept'':{{Unordered list

#*|to conform with strong national ties (in accordance with MOS:DATETIES, as discussed in 2 above); or

#*there|for isgood reason, by consensus on the article's talk page otherwise (see below).

Caution}} shouldThink be usedcarefully before making changes to thechanging established date formats of existing articles, especially changes to multiple articles in a particular subject area. Consider whether the proposed change would improve Wikipedia (beyond conforming the articles to your personal preference) and whether editors who have contributed to the articles on a particular subjectarticle(s) may have reached a consensus to use a particular format. SomeOther editors may revertfeel changesjustified toin reverting date-format formats that arechanges made without prior discussion, even when those changes citeare appropriatesupported sections ofby the above guidelines supporting them.

As is the case with any guidelines, [[Wikipedia:Ignore all rules|occasional exceptions will apply]] to the guidelines outlined above. If there areis good reasonsreason to ignorediverge from the guidelines in the case of a particular casesarticle, [[Wikipedia:What "Ignore all rules" means#Use common sense|use common sense]] and discussseek any proposed deviation from the guidelines[[WP:CON|consensus]] on the relevantarticle's talk page for an article to reach consensus.

== See also ==

Caution should be used before making changes to the established date formats of existing articles, especially changes to multiple articles in a particular subject area. Consider whether the proposed change would improve Wikipedia and whether editors who have contributed to the articles on a particular subject may have reached a consensus to use a particular format. Some editors may revert changes to date formats that are made without prior discussion, even when those changes cite appropriate sections of the guidelines supporting them.

* [[Date format by country]]