Board Thread:Wiki discussion/@comment-6517-20190219121823

I'd like to propose an amendment to our Manual of Style regarding the convention on writing out dates; more specifically, years.

Currently, the MoS states:


 * "Years should be marked with BCE or CE in accordance with the Common Era notation system. CE should be omitted from a year if there is no need for such clarification within the context of the writing."

I am of the opinion that this gives far to much leeway and opens up the possibility of confusion regarding dates that fall close to the BCE/CE crossover. So, I'd like to propose the following be included in the MoS:


 * 1) All BCE years will require "BCE" be written out, no exceptions.
 * 2) In those instances where a subject was born (or created) BCE and died (or was destroyed) CE, the second date will require "CE" to be written out, no exceptions. (e.g. 13 BCE–48 CE)
 * 3) Any exclusively CE dates written out that fall between 1 CE and 999 CE will require "CE" to be written out except in the following instances:
 * 4) If the second date is 1,000 CE or later (e.g. 989–1191)
 * 5) Any CE dates that fall exclusively after 1,000 CE will not require "CE" to be written.

This is a draft proposal and is open to input from the community. 