The Gregorian calendar serves as the global standard for dating, extending its reach far beyond its Western Christian origins to become a universally accepted system across diverse cultures and languages. Central to this calendar are the abbreviations AD and BC, and their counterparts CE and BCE, which denote years following and preceding a pivotal point in time.
Most people recognize that the Gregorian calendar is structured around the presumed birth year of Jesus Christ. Years are counted upwards from this event, marked by either AD or CE, while years prior are counted downwards, indicated by BC or BCE.
However, the distinction between AD and CE, or BC and BCE, is not always clear. Do they represent the same concept? And if so, is there a preferred abbreviation to use? This article will clarify these dating systems and their nuances.
Decoding AD and BC: The Traditional System
The concept of numbering years from the birth of Jesus Christ was initially proposed in 525 AD by Dionysius Exiguus, a Christian monk. This system was later formalized under the Julian and Gregorian calendars, gaining widespread adoption throughout Europe and the Christian world in the subsequent centuries. AD is an abbreviation for Anno Domini, a Latin phrase that translates to “in the year of the Lord.” Conversely, BC stands for “Before Christ,” clearly indicating the years preceding the traditional birth year of Jesus.
Exploring CE and BCE: The Alternative System
CE is the acronym for “Common Era” (or sometimes “Current Era”), and BCE represents “Before the Common Era” (or “Before the Current Era”). While these abbreviations are more recent than BC and AD, their origins still trace back to the early 18th century. Jewish academics have utilized CE and BCE for over a century. However, their usage broadened significantly in the latter half of the 20th century, gradually replacing BC/AD in various fields, notably within scientific and academic contexts.
Why the Shift to BCE/CE? Reasons for Adoption
The primary driver behind the adoption of BCE/CE is the principle of religious neutrality. As the Gregorian calendar has become the dominant international standard, individuals from non-Christian backgrounds may find the explicitly Christian connotations of BC and AD objectionable. The abbreviation AD, specifically “Anno Domini” or “in the year of the Lord,” can be seen as particularly problematic due to its direct reference to Jesus Christ as “the Lord.”
This pursuit of religious neutrality was the fundamental reason for Jewish scholars adopting BCE/CE over a century ago, and it remains the most frequently cited justification today. Furthermore, some argue against the BC/AD system due to its potential inaccuracy. It is widely accepted among historians and theologians that Jesus Christ was likely born a few years before AD 1, meaning the traditional dating system is based on a slightly inaccurate birth year. BCE/CE circumvents this issue by avoiding direct reference to Christ’s birth, thus removing some of the historical and religious baggage associated with the dating system while still acknowledging the conventional starting point for year 1 CE.
Pushback and Continued Use of BC/AD
Despite the growing acceptance of BCE/CE, BC/AD remains more prevalent, even though BCE/CE has been in mainstream use since the 1980s. There has been resistance to the adoption of BCE/CE, particularly from those who view it as an attempt to diminish the historical significance of Jesus Christ. These proponents of BC/AD argue that the Gregorian calendar is inherently rooted in Christian tradition, and attempting to obscure this fact is unnecessary. Others question the need to replace a well-established and functional system, suggesting that introducing two sets of abbreviations could lead to confusion.
Conversely, some have argued that BCE/CE is ironically less inclusive. They propose that by establishing a “Common Era” starting around the traditional birth year of Christ, BCE/CE inadvertently emphasizes the importance of this event as the dawn of a new epoch, whereas BC/AD is simply a direct reference to the event itself.
Current Usage and Recommendations for Choosing a System
Most style guides do not express a definitive preference for either system, although BC/AD still predominates in journalistic writing. Conversely, BCE/CE is more commonly found in academic and scientific publications. Given the valid arguments for both systems and their continued use, there is no single recommendation. Writers are generally free to choose the system that aligns with their personal preference or the expectations of their target audience. However, consistency is paramount; the chosen system (BC/AD or BCE/CE) should be used throughout a single text. Mixing BC with CE, or BCE with AD, should be avoided.
There are also established typographical conventions to consider:
- BC follows the year number, while AD precedes it.
Example: 1100 BC, AD 1066
- BCE and CE both follow the year number.
Example: 1100 BCE, 1066 CE
- Periods after each letter are optional, depending on style preference for initialisms.
Example: 1100 B.C., A.D. 1066, 1100 B.C.E., 1066 C.E.
- Some style guides recommend using small caps for BC, AD, BCE, and CE.
Example: AD 2017
In many contexts, particularly when discussing recent centuries, the BC/AD or BCE/CE distinction is often unnecessary. It is generally understood that an unspecified year refers to CE (or AD). Therefore, dates within the last few centuries are frequently written without either CE or AD.
