• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORKSHOPS
  • WRITING
  • WELTCHEK WEEKLY
  • CONTACT
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORKSHOPS
  • WRITING
  • WELTCHEK WEEKLY
  • CONTACT

The Weltchek Weekly

Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

 
Categories
  • Prepare
  • Organize
  • Write
  • Edit
  • Review
  • Say It Better. Say It Right
Sign up for the Weltchek Weekly
Your Bulletin for Better Business Writing

How to Write Date and Time Ranges, With—or Without—the Dash

  • Category: Review, Uncategorized
  • |
  • On June 9, 2015

Someone sent me the bio of a newly appointed chief executive officer. It said he served on an executive leadership team “from 2010 – 2013.”

The problem with “from 2010 – 2013” is that it’s redundant. The dash—in this case the en dash—means from the first date up to and including the second date. So, as written, this was saying from twice.

If you’re going to use the en dash, don’t use qualifying words like from, to, or through. Or omit the dash and use words.

The bio writer had several options that would have been correct:

• The CEO served on the leadership team from 2010 to 2013.
• The CEO served on the leadership team from 2010 through 2013.
• The CEO served on the leadership team 2010 – 2013.

The same principles apply elsewhere. If you’re sending an invitation, for instance, you could write either “Join us Thursday, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.” or “Join us Thursday, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.”

Share:

Previous Post

Leave Out “Literally” and Be More Emphatic—Clever, Too

Next Post

Keep Capitalization to a Minimum
Scroll

Weltchek Weekly

Want help sprucing up your copy?
Sign up here to get practical tips for improving everything you write.

 
  • The State of Engagement
  • On Behalf of Myself—Not!
  • Let’s Agree—in Person

© 2023 WeltchekWrites

Contact me here