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Why do Americans want to know the month first and the day second? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by NONE_dc@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I'm sorry but it doesn't make sense TO ME. Based on what I was taught, regardless of the month, I think what matters first is to know what day of the month you are in, if at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of said month. After you know that, you can find out the month to know where you are in the year.

What is the benefit of doing it the other way around?

EDIT: To avoid misunderstandings:

I am NOT making fun OF ANYONE.
I am NOT negatively judging ANYTHING.
I am totally open to being corrected and LEARN.
This post is out of pure and honest CURIOSITY.

So PLEASE, don't take it the wrong way.

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[–] IttihadChe@lemmy.ml 45 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Because the month is bigger and provides more context on it's own. You figure out the month first then place yourself within that scale.

Example:

"It's May (immediately tells us the context of 31days, spring, etc.) It is the 30th, so there's one day left in May"

"It's the 30th (provides no context except that it's not February). it's may, so there's one day left in May"

So both lead to the same conclusion, the first way just gives the limiting parameter/most context first.

Similar reasoning why the month is the primary separation on calendars.

Another example that follow this same principle, you tell time HH/mm to provide the larger context first, not mm/HH.

[–] red_concrete@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

you tell time HH/mm to provide the larger context first, not mm/HH.

Except not everywhere does, at least in speech. Half past ten. Quarter to eight. Five past three.

Although in the US I suppose you do say ten thirty, and seven forty-five? So at least you are consistent!

[–] TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 3 days ago

Surprised I had to scroll all the way to the bottom of the comments to find this answer

[–] dan1101@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

This pretty much sums it up for me, knowing the month first conveys a lot of information. Then the specific day gives more precision, year you can often assume but it's there in case it's not what you expected.