business letters: date
These guidelines will help you to write the date correctly in a business letter.
Format
The date is generally written in full in a business letter. The usual North American style places the month before the day, with a comma between the day and the year:
- April 4, 2016
However, the date can also be written with the day before the month; in that case, no comma is used:
- 4 April 2016
Note that in a date that includes the year, the day is represented by a cardinal number, not an ordinal number (e.g. 4 rather than 4th in the date April 4, 2016).
Placement
The date appears at the left margin in full block style, but it can be placed on the right-hand side of the page to help fit in all the pieces of information required and make it easier to find correspondence filed by date.
See an example of a date in a business letter in full block style in business letters: model letter.
Copyright notice for Writing Tips Plus
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
A tool created and made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada
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