User:Gerry Ashton/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Common Era, also known as the Current Era, is the period of measured time beginning with the year 1 on the Gregorian calendar. Common or Current Era are alternative names for anno Domini, Latin for in the year of (Our) Lord,[1], also translated of the Christian Era. All of these era names are chronologically equivalent, i.e. the number of any given year is the same no matter which of these era names is used. When using the names Common Era or Current Era early years are described as before the Common/Current Era. When using the names anno Domini or Christian Era, early years are described as before Christ. A year zero is not included with any of these era names (however, the astronomical system and ISO 8601, both based on the system, do).
The short forms for Common Era and before the Common Era are CE and BCE. The short form for anno Domini is AD. The short forms for Christian Era are either AD[2] or CE.[3] The short form for before Christ is BC. These short forms are sometimes written with small capital letters, or with periods (e.g. C.E.)
[edit] Notes
- ^ Blackburn, Bonnie; Leofranc Holford-Strevens (2003). The Oxford companion to the Year: An exploration of calendar customs and time reckoning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-214231-3. (reprinted & corrected, originally published 1999) p. 782
- ^ Oxford Pocket Dictionary and Thesaurus, (American ed.) (1997), New York: Oxford University Press, s.v. "A.D.".
- ^ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary s.v. "CE", accessed March 4, 2007.
