Date to Words Converter
Choose any date to see it written in words
Your Date in Words
Full Format (American)
Full Format (British)
Ordinal Format
Formal Document Format
Check/Legal Format
How This Works
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Don’t mix American and British formats on the same document
- • Always use ordinals (1st, 2nd, 3rd) correctly when writing dates
- • For checks and legal docs, spell out the full date without abbreviations
- • Don’t forget to capitalize month names in formal writing
How It Works
Converting dates to words is straightforward once you understand the format rules. This converter takes any date you input and transforms it into multiple written formats used across different contexts, from casual writing to formal legal documents.
The basic formula is simple:
Written Date = Month (in words) + Day (with ordinal) + Year (in words)
For example, 2024-03-15 becomes “March fifteenth, two thousand twenty-four” in American format, or “the fifteenth of March, two thousand twenty-four” in British format.
When Do You Need Dates Written in Words?
Most people need this when writing checks. Banks require the date spelled out completely to prevent fraud and ensure clarity. If you write “March 15, 2024” numerically as 03/15/24, someone could potentially alter it. But “the fifteenth day of March, two thousand twenty-four” is much harder to tamper with.
Legal documents are another big use case. Contracts, affidavits, wills, and court filings often require dates in written form for the same reason: precision and tamper resistance. A date in words leaves no room for interpretation about formatting (is 03/15/24 March 15 or the 3rd of May?).
Formal invitations, wedding announcements, and professional correspondence also look more polished with written dates. “Saturday, the twenty-first of June, two thousand twenty-five” feels more elegant than “6/21/25” on a wedding invitation.
Why American and British Formats Are Different
The difference isn’t just about preference. It reflects how each culture naturally speaks about dates.
Americans typically say “March fifteenth” (month first), so the written form follows: “March fifteenth, two thousand twenty-four.” British English speakers say “the fifteenth of March” (day first), which translates to “the fifteenth of March, two thousand twenty-four.”
If you’re writing for an international audience, stick with the format that matches your document’s style guide. Legal documents in the US use American format. UK contracts use British format. Getting this wrong won’t invalidate anything, but it looks sloppy.
Understanding Ordinal Numbers
Ordinals are the numbers that show position or order: first (1st), second (2nd), third (3rd), and so on. When writing dates in words, you need to know how to spell these correctly.
The pattern is consistent but has a few exceptions:
- Numbers ending in 1 use “first” (1st, 21st, 31st) except 11th
- Numbers ending in 2 use “second” (2nd, 22nd) except 12th
- Numbers ending in 3 use “third” (3rd, 23rd) except 13th
- Numbers from 4-20 get “th” (4th through 20th)
- Numbers above 20 follow the pattern of their last digit
So March 1st is “the first of March,” March 2nd is “the second of March,” March 21st is “the twenty-first of March,” and March 22nd is “the twenty-second of March.”
How to Write Years in Words
Writing years gets tricky, especially for recent dates. There are two acceptable ways:
Method 1: Full Number (More formal)
2024 = “two thousand twenty-four”
1999 = “one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine”
2000 = “two thousand”
Method 2: Split Pairs (More casual)
1999 = “nineteen ninety-nine”
1985 = “nineteen eighty-five”
This works for years 1100-1999 but sounds awkward for 2000-2009.
For legal and financial documents, always use Method 1. For everything else, use whatever sounds natural when you say it out loud.
Common Date Writing Scenarios
Writing Checks
On a check, write the date in the top right corner using this format: “Month Day, Year” with the day as a number and the year in full. So March 15, 2024. Then, when you write out the amount in words on the check’s main line, that’s different (that’s for the dollar amount, not the date).
However, if you’re writing a formal letter that mentions the check date within the text, spell it out completely: “the check dated the fifteenth day of March, two thousand twenty-four.”
Legal Documents and Contracts
Legal writing requires the most formal approach. You’ll often see dates written as: “this fifteenth day of March, in the year two thousand twenty-four” or even more formally: “this 15th day of March, A.D. 2024.”
The key is consistency. If you spell out one date in a contract, spell them all out the same way. Mixing formats (“March 15, 2024” in one clause and “the 15th of March 2024” in another) looks unprofessional and can raise questions during disputes.
Wedding Invitations and Formal Events
Formal invitations have their own traditions. The most traditional format spells everything out and uses “the” before the date:
“Saturday, the twenty-first of June
two thousand twenty-five
at half past six in the evening”
What About Edge Cases?
February 29th (Leap Years)
Leap years happen every four years (with some exceptions). February 29, 2024 is written as “the twenty-ninth of February, two thousand twenty-four.” Nothing special about the writing, but it’s a date that only exists once every four years, so it can catch people off guard.
If you’re converting a date and it shows February 29 for a non-leap year (like 2023), that’s an invalid date and won’t convert properly.
First Day of the Month
Some people write “March 1st” while others prefer “March 1.” In words, it’s always “the first of March” or “March first.” The ordinal “first” is non-negotiable in written form.
Turn of the Century Dates
Dates like January 1, 2000 are written as “the first of January, two thousand” (not “two thousand zero” or “two thousand and zero”). The year 2000 is simply “two thousand.”
Quick Reference: Date Formats Compared
| Numeric Date | American Format | British Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | January first, two thousand twenty-four | the first of January, two thousand twenty-four |
| 2024-02-14 | February fourteenth, two thousand twenty-four | the fourteenth of February, two thousand twenty-four |
| 2024-07-04 | July fourth, two thousand twenty-four | the fourth of July, two thousand twenty-four |
| 2024-12-31 | December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four | the thirty-first of December, two thousand twenty-four |
| 2000-01-01 | January first, two thousand | the first of January, two thousand |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I capitalize months when writing dates in words?
Yes, always. Month names are proper nouns and get capitalized in all contexts: March, April, December. This applies whether you’re writing a check, a legal document, or a casual note.
Should I use “and” when writing years?
In American English, no. Write “two thousand twenty-four” not “two thousand and twenty-four.” British English sometimes includes “and” (two thousand and twenty-four), but it’s becoming less common even there. For consistency across all English-speaking regions, skip the “and.”
Can I abbreviate months when writing dates in words?
Not in formal contexts. “Sept.” or “Dec.” defeat the purpose of writing dates in words, which is clarity and formality. Always spell out the full month name: September, December.
What if I’m writing for an international audience?
Stick with one format throughout your document and be consistent. If you’re uncertain which format to use, American format (month-day-year) is more widely recognized globally, but British format (day-month-year) is standard in most non-US English-speaking countries. When in doubt, include both the numeric date in parentheses for absolute clarity.
How do I write historical dates in words?
For dates before 1000 AD, write them out fully: “the year nine hundred ninety-nine.” For dates after 1000, you can split them into pairs if it sounds natural when spoken: “seventeen seventy-six” for 1776. But for absolute clarity in legal or academic writing, spell out the full number: “one thousand seven hundred seventy-six.”
Is there a difference between “the first of March” and “March first”?
Yes, but it’s subtle. “The first of March” is British format and sounds more formal. “March first” is American format and is standard in US writing. Both are correct, but pick one style and stick with it throughout your document. Don’t mix them.
What about dates with AD or BC?
For historical dates, place AD after the year and BC after the year: “the first of January, AD 1066” or “March fifteenth, 44 BC.” Some modern style guides prefer CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era) instead of AD and BC, but the positioning remains the same.
Can I use numerals for the day but spell out the month?
That’s a hybrid format (March 15, 2024) and it’s perfectly acceptable for most writing. But when the goal is to write the entire date in words, as on checks or formal invitations, spell out everything: “March fifteenth, two thousand twenty-four.”