form of writing dates in USA

[riccardking]

Why, in the USA, do they use the format month/day/year instead of day/month/year ?

[catcuddler]

i dont have the answer buts it annoys me grrr

[Ethel]

We (and the majority of countries) use the 'little endian form' which is a contraction of the way we used to write. Today's date would have been written as 'the second day of October in the year of our Lord 2008'.

The USA and Canada use the 'middle endian form' as that follows their speech pattern - October 2nd.

I blame lazy speech. 'October 2nd' is only two words, whereas ' the 2nd of October' is four,

[saxy_jag]

That would sum the Americans up in one, Ethel. Daft thing is, I know a few of them who would agree. ;-)

[beso]

Actually the yymmdd form used in Asia makes much more sense. It matches the number system with the most significant digits to the left. It sorts correctly when ordered alphanumerically.

[cymrudiamond]

Beso, maybe so, but as an American who has lived in the U.K. I prefer their system!! :D