How do you say "2009": two thousand (and) nine?

[iSamurai]

I've always had this mystery that I want to clear up...

As I speak british english, I always say the "and" in e.g. 2009, 234 etc.
(two thousand and nine, two hundred and thirty-four), and I know for a fact that different english regions based on british english also say the "and".

I've read on Wikipedia and they say it's apparently american english, but I was watching CNN just now and one presenter say the "and" and the other doesn't. They're all american... (CNN US simulcast on CNN International now...)

so this is really weird. I guess this differs from where you're from in the US... probably also applies to the US english omitting the "on" in "on" Monday, "on" Tuesday... coz it's really weird that some articles on cnn.com have the "on" and some doesn't... :confused::confused::confused:


if you're an american and you don't say the "and" nor the "on", where're you from (which part of US)???

[iBlue]

I like to say MMDCCLXII


Actually, I've never given it any thought. So long as people know what you're trying to communicate, I don't care if an "and" is omitted or not. I don't even know what I regularly say, probably "two thousand nine" because it's more efficient. :p

[és:]

As I speak british english

Also known as 'English'.

[Jaffa Cake]

I'd use the 'and' myself as well. I'd expect it's something that does vary from country to country though, even among English speaking nations.

Thing is though, at which point do we switch over to 'twenty-whatever'?

I've heard the 2012 Olympics being referred to as the 'two thousand and twelve' and 'twenty-twelve' Games. the same is true of the recent bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Enquiring minds demand an answer.

[arkitect]

As I speak british english, I always say the "and" in e.g. 2009, 234 etc.
(two thousand and nine, two hundred and thirty-four), and I know for a fact that different english regions based on british english also say the "and".

2000 and 9

I like to say MMDCCLXII
2762?
Interesting… ;)


I've heard the 2012 Olympics being referred to as the 'two thousand and twelve' and 'twenty-twelve' Games.
Bleghh.

[és:]

I'd use the 'and' myself as well. I'd expect it's something that does vary from country to country though, even among English speaking nations.

Thing is though, at which point do we switch over to 'twenty-whatever'?

I've heard the 2012 Olympics being referred to as the 'two thousand and twelve' and 'twenty-twelve' Games. the same is true of the recent bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Enquiring minds demand an answer.

I think most people will change next year and say 'Twenty Ten' and so on. Otherwise it'll be like saying 'Nineteen Thousand and Ninety Nine' instead of 'Nineteen Nighty Nine'.

[Jaffa Cake]

I think most people will change next year and say 'Twenty Ten' and so on. Otherwise it'll be like saying 'Nineteen Thousand and Ninety Nine' instead of 'Nineteen Nighty Nine'.I'd tend to agree. There'll likely be a transitional period where both are used though, and I'm sure some will be stubborn and stick with the two thousands...

[iBlue]

2762?
Interesting… ;)

I think so too! :D

MMIX might be a little less confusing and accurate though, huh?

[arkitect]

I think most people will change next year and say 'Twenty Ten' and so on. Otherwise it'll be like saying 'Nineteen Thousand and Ninety Nine' instead of 'Nineteen Nighty Nine'.
I don't think we're quite there yet. :p
19099

I'd tend to agree. There'll likely be a transitional period where both are used though, and I'm sure some will be stubborn and stick with the two thousands...

I was born in 1964.
I was born in nineteen hundred and sixty four…

So I guess I'll be sticking with the two thousands. :o

[richard.mac]

i say "two thousand and nine". next year ill probably switch to "twenty-ten".

[iBlue]

I don't think we're quite there yet. :p
19099

Quit being so specific! :p

[és:]

I don't think we're quite there yet. :p
19099

Numerical Nazi! *shakes fist*




D'oH

[arkitect]

Quit being so specific! :p
Gaaah… I can't help myself.

Numerical Nazi! *shakes fist*
D'oH
I am such a pedant.
It's a curse I tells yah!
:o:p

[Dagless]

Toof housands and nines.

[LeahM]

I say two thousand nine the majority of the time, but if I'm watching my speech I say two thousand and nine.

[Peterkro]

I always use the and 9, it appears the bollocky BBC disagrees however.From what I hear the largest group of English speakers (Indians) are on my side.

[tersono]

"This year"

:D

[zelmo]

I don't think I have a standard method. I sometimes add the 'and' and sometimes just say two-thousand-nine.
Next year it will be twenty-ten.

[nick9191]

Two thousand and nine. At the end of this decade I may say Twenty ten or two thousand and ten. I have yet to decide.

However last century I said Nineteen ninety nine.

[bigandy]

Two thousand and nine. Or 'this year'. :)


Also known as 'English'.

Not trying to start this discussion again, but actually American English has changed/evolved less than British English since Americashire was first settled by teh Europeans. ;)

[7on]

No one says "twenty ought nine"?

[SpookTheHamster]

Two thousand and nine. I can't decide when it becomes better to say 'twenty whatever' though, I'm thinking 2013.

Another major time based difference I've noticed between Americans and English people is the use of 'half past', 'quarter to' etc. My old American friends never used to understand it, when I asked how they approximated the time they would say 'eight thirty' or whatever was closest.

[tkidBOSTON]

A hundred score and nine.

[Abstract]

Not trying to start this discussion again, but actually American English has changed/evolved less than British English since Americashire was first settled by teh Europeans. ;)

Well however the English speak it should be called English, no matter how it has changed. ;)

[garybUK]

I always say 'Two Thousand and Ten' and I HATE it when people say 'February 13th 2009' it's '13th February 2009'

[siurpeeman]

No one says "twenty ought nine"?

not yet, but i'm sure in a couple years people will refer to this year as such. takes a little getting used to.

[és:]

T
Not trying to start this discussion again, but actually American English has changed/evolved less than British English since Americashire was first settled by teh Europeans. ;)

So? :D

There is no British English. Just English. Tally-Ho.

[atszyman]

I've always had this mystery that I want to clear up...

As I speak british english, I always say the "and" in e.g. 2009, 234 etc.
(two thousand and nine, two hundred and thirty-four), and I know for a fact that different english regions based on british english also say the "and".

I've read on Wikipedia and they say it's apparently american english, but I was watching CNN just now and one presenter say the "and" and the other doesn't. They're all american... (CNN US simulcast on CNN International now...)

so this is really weird. I guess this differs from where you're from in the US... probably also applies to the US english omitting the "on" in "on" Monday, "on" Tuesday... coz it's really weird that some articles on cnn.com have the "on" and some doesn't... :confused::confused::confused:


if you're an american and you don't say the "and" nor the "on", where're you from (which part of US)???

Two thousand nine, twenty-ought-nine, oh-nine... that's pretty much the extent. When talking numbers I've always been taught, and held mostly to the rule that any time the word "and" is used that it signifies a decimal point so "two thousand and nine" will always sound like 2000.9 to me.

I think so too! :D

MMIX might be a little less confusing and accurate though, huh?

Sweet, I'm to start calling the year "em-mix" today is Friday February 13, m-mix.

A hundred score and nine.

With only 23 fortnights left... until a hundred score and ten...

[Melrose]

There is no British English. Just English. Tally-Ho.
How do you differentiate the two? English and American English? Just wondering, since there are noted differences..

I tend to omit the 'and' when I'm saying the date, but use it when there's maths at hand.

[Zombie Acorn]

Also known as 'English'.

When America became the greatest nation in the world we took over English, they get a prefix to their version now.*


How do you differentiate the two? English and American English? Just wondering, since there are noted differences..

I tend to omit the 'and' when I'm saying the date, but use it when there's maths at hand.

colour/color, checks/cheques, grey/gray, hmm I am sure there are more



















*Not responsible for any sudden emotional distress caused by message, please seek medical attention if tightening in the chest occurs.

[iJohnHenry]

I say two thousand nine the majority of the time, but if I'm watching my speech I say two thousand and nine.

Either is acceptable, and neither will be misconstrued as September 20th ( 20-09). ;)

I always say 'Two Thousand and Ten' and I HATE it when people say 'February 13th 2009' it's '13th February 2009'

Ah, the old DD/MM/YY argument. The bane of programmers everywhere, in my day at least. :mad:

[Zombie Acorn]

Ah, the old DD/MM/YY argument. The bane of programmers everywhere, in my day at least. :mad:

Still working through the Y2K rehabilitation program? :p

[atszyman]

Ah, the old DD/MM/YY argument. The bane of programmers everywhere, in my day at least. :mad:

It should always be year, month, day... once we adopt that as the standard then sorting will always be so much easier, sort by first column, then second, then third...

[leekohler]

Two thousand nine, twenty-ought-nine, oh-nine... that's pretty much the extent. When talking numbers I've always been taught, and held mostly to the rule that any time the word "and" is used that it signifies a decimal point so "two thousand and nine" will always sound like 2000.9 to me.

That is correct. Using "and" is improper and inaccurate. It does indicate a decimal point, hence why we write checks this way for $234.67:

Two-hundred thirty-four and 67/100 dollars.

Two thousand nine is correct. And yes, that's how I say it and I live in Chicago.

[Zombie Acorn]

I also agree with "two thousand nine", I am from Kansas.

[és:]

When America became the greatest nation in the world we took over English, they get a prefix to their version now.

I think we should go by sheer numbers and call it Engrish.

[benbondu]

That is correct. Using "and" is improper and inaccurate. It does indicate a decimal point, hence why we write checks this way for $234.67:

Two-hundred thirty-four and 67/100 dollars.

Two thousand nine is correct. And yes, that's how I say it and I live in Chicago.

Actually, the "and" signifies addition. Hundreds of years ago, English speakers used to say 25 as "five and twenty". Many languages still use this convention. Currently it's typically only used between whole numbers and fractions because that's the only place it's really necessary. E.g. How would you say 200.55 without using "and" (or "point")?

When talking about years, two thousand and nine would be interpreted as 2000+9, or 2009, which is correct. The "and" isn't necessary, but it's a generally accepted practice and (especially since there are no fractions involved in stating a date) it doesn't usually lead to any confusion among reasonable adults.

[atszyman]

(especially since there are no fractions involved in stating a date)

Speak for yourself. Today at 11 a.m. will always be 2009.119063926941 to me.

[yoppie]

I live in S. Florida and I say two thousand nine.

[millerj123]

Actually, the "and" signifies addition. Hundreds of years ago, English speakers used to say 25 as "five and twenty". Many languages still use this convention. Currently it's typically only used between whole numbers and fractions because that's the only place it's really necessary. E.g. How would you say 200.55 without using "and" (or "point")?

When talking about years, two thousand and nine would be interpreted as 2000+9, or 2009, which is correct. The "and" isn't necessary, but it's a generally accepted practice and (especially since there are no fractions involved in stating a date) it doesn't usually lead to any confusion among reasonable adults.

"Four score and seven years ago..." For years, I guess this makes sense. For money it gets confusing. "Two hundred and 10": is that 210 or 200.10? "Two hundred and ten dollars" is not ambiguous because units are specified. But, "two hundred and ten dollars and ten cents" is a bit much.

I'm going to continue with "Two thousand nine" for the year. Simple.

[11800506]

I generally seem to say two thousand nine, although rarely I do add the "and" in there. I'm from Maryland.

[Nermal]

How do you differentiate the two? English and American English?

English and Basic English :p

[EricNau]

That is correct. Using "and" is improper and inaccurate. It does indicate a decimal point, hence why we write checks this way for $234.67:

Two-hundred thirty-four and 67/100 dollars.

Two thousand nine is correct. And yes, that's how I say it and I live in Chicago.
That's exactly how I learned it as well (in California).

[alphaod]

Come on folks.

We learned this is junior school:

AND implies a decimal place, so "two thousand AND nine" = 2000.9

When you want to say 2009, you just say, "two thousand nine."

[dukebound85]

Come on folks.

We learned this is junior school:

AND implies a decimal place, so "two thousand AND nine" = 2000.9

When you want to say 2009, you just say, "two thousand nine."

i was taught 101= one hundred and one and such forth

if i want a decimal, i say one hundred POINT one for 100.1. i dont use "and" to signify a decimal

[Nermal]

For money it gets confusing. "Two hundred and 10": is that 210 or 200.10?

In this country it would always be 210, no confusion at all.

[dukebound85]

In this country it would always be 210, no confusion at all.

yea i would never mistake that for 200.10. always would mean 210 for me

[ukmacpro]

I don't know... Is this "and" to denote a decimal point an american thing? In sunny England I always say "point"... how else do you say any number over a hundred???

158 = One hundred AND fifty-eight
2556 = Two-thousand five-hundred AND fifty-six

although we use lots of ands if we're talking about money

£158.58 = One hundred AND fifty-eight AND fifty-eight pence...

EDIT: actually... thinking about it in the shower, most people say

£158.58 = One hundred AND fifty-eight pounds fifty-eight... with no and to signify the decimal point... when writing a cheque you'd say "One-hundred and fifty-eight pounds fifty-eight pence only". It's a shame in this world of internet banking and plastic cards - I hardly every get to write cheques any more...

[Mr. Giver '94]

I'm from California and I say the 'and' and the 'on'

i was taught 101= one hundred and one and such forth

if i want a decimal, i say one hundred POINT one for 100.1. i dont use "and" to signify a decimal

I always say point as well.

[yoyo5280]

Also known as 'English'.

So is American English...

I think there should be Anglish and Binglish ;) maybe Auslish

[UWSpindoctor]

I also learned the convention that saying "and" in regards to a number implies a decimal point so I say "two thousand nine"

As for the question a few posts down:
158 = "One hundred fifty-eight"
2556 = "Two-thousand five-hundred fifty-six"

[Doctor Q]

Why do we use years with leading zeroes when we write dates?

Why is Valentine's Day written 2/14/09 and 14/2/09? Why not 2/14/9 and 14/2/9? Either way, you have to know in advance what order the fields are in, so why write more than you have to?

On the flipside, if you like leading zeroes, you aren't using enough. You should be writing 02/14/009 and 14/02/009!

[MacGnG]

i was taught that you say AND only if its a decimal: 10.90 ten dollars and ninety cents. or 100.5 one hundred and five tenths.....

so i would say two thousand nine.

[hexonxonx]

i was taught that you say AND only if its a decimal: 10.90 ten dollars and ninety cents. or 100.5 one hundred and five tenths.....

so i would say two thousand nine.

Same. I say two thousand nine.

[Nermal]

100.5 one hundred and five tenths

"Five tenths"? Seriously? :eek:

[és:]

So is American English...


No, American English is American English. English is English, like what we does talks ova 'ere.

[doubleohseven]

I pronounce 2009 as "two thousand and nine". I'm from Australia.

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I'm saying "to tusen og ni", which translates - word for word - to "two thousand and nine". I was born in "nitten sytti", i.e. "nineteen seventy".

I guess we'll start shorten it at some time, using "twenty" plus something, like "twenty eighteen".

I still think next year will be "two thousand and ten", and then "two thousand and eleven" and probably "two thousand and twelve", but then - as the millennium goes into it's teens - I might go over to "twenty thirteen" and take it from there...

In Norway, we're not even quite finished with how numbers between 21 and 99 are actually are pronounced: Eg. is 72 spoken as "two and seventy" or simply "seventy two"? The older you get the more likely you are to use the first form. I actually use both, interchangeably...

[bartelby]

When America became the greatest nation in the world

When did this happen?
:confused:


No, American English is American English. English is English, like what we does talks ova 'ere.

Maybe so the Americans don't get confused we could just call American "English" american and real English, English?

[A Pittarelli]

i say two nine. its just so much more hip than saying extra words you dont have too. thats also why im on this forum :p

[xUKHCx]

It should always be year, month, day... once we adopt that as the standard then sorting will always be so much easier, sort by first column, then second, then third...

At least with day month year it is sort by third, second then first. Which is fine and why I call it reverse format.

Where as with the American system it would be sort by third, first and then second. :confused:

Why do we use years with leading zeroes when we write dates?

Why is Valentine's Day written 2/14/09 and 14/2/09? Why not 2/14/9 and 14/2/9? Either way, you have to know in advance what order the fields are in, so why write more than you have to?

On the flipside, if you like leading zeroes, you aren't using enough. You should be writing 02/14/009 and 14/02/009!

I actually write 14/02/09 or 01/02/09. So not the full compliment of leading zeros as described above but at least the symmetrical amount.

Although if I am saving a document on the computer with the date it would be 20090214

That is correct. Using "and" is improper and inaccurate. It does indicate a decimal point, hence why we write checks this way for $234.67:

Two-hundred thirty-four and 67/100 dollars.

Two thousand nine is correct. And yes, that's how I say it and I live in Chicago.

I think you should preface this with: In America

I find it quite odd that the mathematical operation for add is used to denote a decimal point.

If I had to write a check it would be:

two hundred and thirty four pounds and sixty seven pence only.


I really dislike it when (usually in American film) the date is expressed as January 2 just seems so so lazy, it should be pronounced "January the 2nd" or "2nd of January" (my preferred) or at ultimate worst January 2nd.

[Patdt13]

I say it like Twenty 0 Nine

[Nermal]

I really dislike it when (usually in American film) the date is expressed as January 2 just seems so so lazy, it should be pronounced "January the 2nd" or "2nd of January" (my preferred) or at ultimate worst January 2nd.

Yet they almost always say "4th of July". I'm sure there's some irony there :p

[atszyman]

I don't know... Is this "and" to denote a decimal point an american thing? In sunny England I always say "point"... how else do you say any number over a hundred???

158 = One hundred AND fifty-eight
2556 = Two-thousand five-hundred AND fifty-six

although we use lots of ands if we're talking about money

£158.58 = One hundred AND fifty-eight AND fifty-eight pence...

EDIT: actually... thinking about it in the shower, most people say

£158.58 = One hundred AND fifty-eight pounds fifty-eight... with no and to signify the decimal point... when writing a cheque you'd say "One-hundred and fifty-eight pounds fifty-eight pence only". It's a shame in this world of internet banking and plastic cards - I hardly every get to write cheques any more...

At least with day month year it is sort by third, second then first. Which is fine and why I call it reverse format.

Where as with the American system it would be sort by third, first and then second. :confused:



I actually write 14/02/09 or 01/02/09. So not the full compliment of leading zeros as described above but at least the symmetrical amount.

Although if I am saving a document on the computer with the date it would be 20090214



I think you should preface this with: In America

I find it quite odd that the mathematical operation for add is used to denote a decimal point.

If I had to write a check it would be:

two hundred and thirty four pounds and sixty seven pence only.


I really dislike it when (usually in American film) the date is expressed as January 2 just seems so so lazy, it should be pronounced "January the 2nd" or "2nd of January" (my preferred) or at ultimate worst January 2nd.

How do you decide where to put the ands? Why is 2258 "two thousand two hundred and fifty eight" and not "two thousand and two hundred and fifty and eight"?

what happens when you have a very large number like 1,458,329? Where do you put in the ands? For me it's simply "one million four hundred fifty eight thousand three hundred twenty nine" for some it would seem that this is "one million, four hundred and fifty eight thousand and three hundred and twenty nine"

[Nermal]

what happens when you have a very large number like 1,458,329?

One million four hundred and fifty eight thousand three hundred and twenty nine.

[atszyman]

One million four hundred and fifty eight thousand three hundred and twenty nine.

Why only between the hundreds? why not between the millions thousands and tens? Just seems kind of arbitrary.

[Prof.]

I say "Two Thousand Nine". Which is the correct way to say it.

[Aeolius]

"Throat Warbler Mangrove"

[masterapple04]

I say two thousand nine, and next year it'll be twenty ten.

I'm from Massachusetts, btw.

[dlamin517]

i say twenty 'O' nine

[yg17]

Two thousand nine, I'm from Missouri.

And I consider MM/DD/YY proper :D You normally say "February 15th, 2009" so it makes since to put that into shorthand in the same order, 2/15/09. The only time I hear "The 15th of February" is in fancy, formal speak, but for casual, it's always "February 15th"

[MacGnG]

speak american not english! :D

it only matters till next year... cause that will be "twenty ten"

[Gary55379]

iSamarai,

Why stop there?

If you say the and in a number, as you say you do, how did you speak the year 10 years ago? Did you say "One thousand and nine hundred and niney and nine"? How would you say 1917, "One thousand and nine hundred and seventeen"?

It's a ridiculous exercise.

Who says you speak "British English"? I'm quite sure people in England speak hybrids of English as well as Americans do.

IF you do it in numbers as well, how would you speak a big number like 1,234,567,890? Let's go even further. If you speak "British English, do you know what a billion is? Americans and the rest of the world would say a billion is a thousand millions, but the English might say it's a million millions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billion_(word)

Call it whatever you like!

Gary

PS. By the way, how would old English people say 1 billion one hundred million? (1,100,000,000) "One thousand one hundred million"? Screwy!
------------------------

Isamarai said...
As I speak british english, I always say the "and" in e.g. 2009, 234 etc.
(two thousand and nine, two hundred and thirty-four), and I know for a fact that different english regions based on british english also say the "and".

[bobr1952]

I think most people will change next year and say 'Twenty Ten' and so on. Otherwise it'll be like saying 'Nineteen Thousand and Ninety Nine' instead of 'Nineteen Nighty Nine'.

That would have ruined the song. :D

[macbookairman]

iSamarai,

Why stop there?

If you say the and in a number, as you say you do, how did you speak the year 10 years ago? Did you say "One thousand and nine hundred and niney and nine"? How would you say 1917, "One thousand and nine hundred and seventeen"?

It's a ridiculous exercise.


Did you read iSamarai's post?? He said this

I always say the "and" in e.g. 2009, 234 etc.
(two thousand and nine, two hundred and thirty-four), and I know for a fact that different english regions based on british english also say the "and".
He doesn't say Two hundred and thirty and four, as you seem to claim he does.

You say he says all the ands that are possible...but from what I can tell he doesn't. He says "two thousand and nine" and "three thousand and forty five" NOT three thousand and forty and five

[JNB]

Such consternation over an "and." :D

With SWSBO, I have to live with "Two oh oh nine."

[techfreak85]

No "and" for me.

Im still deciding weather to call 2010+ "twenty ten" or "two thousand ten"

[iPhoneNYC]

I just say 0 -9. and in"10."

[Love]

For some reason, I say the date differently than most Canadians. I always say it "29 April Two-thousand-nine".

I'll say twenty-ten.

[d wade]

I swear I hear people say "Two Oh Nine"

its not 2 o 9 -- its 2009 -- TWO THOUSAND NINE

[JoshJosh117]

I say two thousand nine, but people who live near me say it both ways.


I always say 'Two Thousand and Ten' and I HATE it when people say 'February 13th 2009' it's '13th February 2009'

Uhh.... it IS February 13th, 2009. The other way around sounds weird.

[Tom B.]

Uhh.... it IS February 13th, 2009. The other way around sounds weird.

No, the other way makes more sense in terms of the order. For example, it makes sense to say and write the date in order of smallest to largest unit of time.

[Gary55379]

Yes, I know.

If you read above that, I said "Why stop there"?

[daneoni]

'and' for me but weirdly when i'm talking monetary figures i do the american thing ands say Fifteen hundred instead of one thousand five hundred

[JoshJosh117]

No, the other way makes more sense in terms of the order. For example, it makes sense to say and write the date in order of smallest to largest unit of time.

It makes more sense, yes, but in America saying "13th February, 2009" is improper grammar. "13th of February" is okay though.

[ikermalli]

I say two-thousand nine, I'm from Canada, Toronto specifically. But I don't know what you mean by the "on" thing, maybe you could clear it up? I used to say two-thousand and nine because when I was young that is what my mom and dad said because in Africa they speak british english, but then in elementary school they said it is not supposed to be said with an and so I've always said it without the and.

[Malfoy]

'and' for me but weirdly when i'm talking monetary figures i do the american thing ands say Fifteen hundred instead of one thousand five hundred

I'll only say x hundred if its rounded to the nearest hundred. If its 1536, I'd say 'one thousand five hundred and thirty six'.

[pimentoLoaf]

Ought-9
Ought-10
Ought-11

...

Ought-98
Ought-99
Twenty-One-Ought-Ought
:D

[india349]

I say "two thousand nine". Born in Wisconsin, live in Minnesota. Saying "two thousand and nine" would make other people here scratch their heads and ask, "And nine what?"

I do find it interesting that we refer to the years as "oh eight" and "oh nine". I'm Class of 2011 at my university, but I find it rather awkward to say "I'm in the class of eleven." It never sounds right. Saying "two thousand eleven" is way too darn long so I'm starting to compromise with "twenty eleven" which what I believe we'll start saying soon.

Just my "and two cents"? :D

india349

[kdum8]

I don't think it matters how one reads 2009, (two thousand and nine). All version are readily intelligible.

One thing that does irk me is the habit in the US of writing dates as MM/DD/YYYY. It isn't very logical. Either go from big to small or small to big not mix it up. The problem is that almost everyone in the world uses DD/MM/YYYY which makes for serious confusion when working internationally.

And metric as well. What's with hanging on to that? The Imperial system that is in place in the States is actually the British Engineering System and even the Brits have half abandoned it. I am a scientist so I am somewhat biased, but really, the metric system is much better. And more importantly used by everyone in the world. :cool: