Dates
Graduation Dates
In running text, when referring to a graduation year, use all four digits. When you need to abbreviate the year, use the final two digits of the graduation year, or expected graduation year, preceded by an apostrophe, and enclose the year in parentheses. Be sure that the apostrophe is headed in the correct direction.
- Grace Note, who graduated in 2002 with a double major in dance and music, was the guest performer.
- Art Alex (’03) won the department’s award for most creative undergraduate project.
Inclusive Dates
Use an en dash (or a hyphen, if an en dash is unavailable) for continuing or inclusive numbers, but do not use a hyphen as a substitute for the word to.
- She taught in the chemistry department from 2000 to 2006.
- NOT She taught in the chemistry department from 2000–2006.
- The 2006–07 academic year concluded with fair-weather graduation ceremonies.
Punctuation with Dates
No comma is needed between a month and a year. Commas are required before and after a year when month, date, and year are used.
- She began her studies in September 2003 and completed them in May 2007.
- She began her studies on September 1, 2003, and completed them on May 12, 2007.
- She began class on Tuesday, September 1, at 8:00 a.m.