Grammar Tip
Don’t Use Ordinal Numbers When Writing Dates
Another quirky grammar rule that drives us crazy
This is one of those quirky grammar rules that can be confounding because the rule for speaking differs from the rule for writing.
Ordinal numbers show order, or a position in a series: first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd), and so on. Cardinal numbers show an amount: one (1), two (2), three (3), and so on.
Except when it comes to dates.
When we are speaking and say a date, we usually use ordinal numbers. But when we write a date, we should use cardinal numbers.
This means when you orally invite someone to your party, you might say, “We’re having some people over for dinner on October tenth. Can you join us?”
But if you sent a written invitation, it would be, “We’re having some people over for dinner on October 10. Can you join us?”
Of course, if you sent that written invitation to someone and included a “bring a plus-one” note, that person would read, “October 10” but say to their plus-one, “I’ve been invited to a dinner party on October tenth. Would you like to go with me?”
