Business English Essentials: Numbers, Dates, and Time 🗓️

Welcome back to our Business English series! In Lesson 2, we’ll tackle essential skills for everyday business communication: understanding and using business English numbers dates time. These might seem simple, but mastering them will boost your confidence and accuracy in professional settings. Let’s dive in!

Counting in Business

Being able to clearly state quantities is crucial in business. Whether you’re discussing sales figures, inventory levels, or project timelines, accurate numbers are key.

Cardinal Numbers (Counting)

Here’s a quick review of basic numbers. Notice how they build upon each other:

Beyond Ten:

• For numbers 13-19, notice the “-teen” suffix.
• For multiples of ten (20, 30, 40, etc.), notice the “-ty” suffix.
• To form numbers between multiples of ten, combine the ten’s number with the single-digit number (e.g., twenty-one, thirty-five).
• In English, we use a comma (,) to separate thousands and a period (.) for decimals (though some countries do the opposite, so be mindful of context in international business!).

Examples in Business:

• “We sold 25 units this quarter.”
• “The project will cost $1,500.”
• “Our team has 12 members.”

Specifying Order: Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate position or rank. We use them for dates, schedules, and when listing items in order of importance.

Key Points:

• Most ordinal numbers end in “-th”.
• The exceptions are first, second, and third.
• For numbers ending in 1, 2, or 3 (except 11, 12, 13), the ordinal ending is “-st”, “-nd”, or “-rd” respectively.

Examples in Business:

• “This is our first quarterly report.”
• “The meeting is scheduled for the second Tuesday of the month.”
• “Our company ranked third in customer satisfaction.”

Writing Dates Clearly

Different countries have different date formats, which can lead to confusion. In business writing, clarity is essential.

Common Date Formats:

• Day/Month/Year (e.g., UK): 04/02/2024 (the 4th of February, 2024)
• Month/Day/Year (e.g., US): 02/04/2024 (February 4th, 2024)

To avoid confusion, it’s often best to write the month in words:

• February 4th, 2024 (common in the US)
• 4th of February, 2024 (common in the UK and some other regions)
• 2024 February 4 (less common in general writing but can be used in formal or technical contexts)

When speaking, we usually say:

• “The fourth of February, twenty twenty-four.” (for 04/02/2024)
• “February fourth, twenty twenty-four.” (for 02/04/2024)

Examples in Business:

• “The deadline for the proposal is March 15th, 2024.”
• “Our annual conference will be held from November 10th to 12th, 2024.”

Telling Time Professionally

In business, punctuality and clear communication about schedules are vital.

Basic Time Telling:

• O’clock: Used for exact hours (e.g., It’s 9 o’clock.)
• Half past: Used for 30 minutes past the hour (e.g., It’s half past ten – 10:30)
• Quarter past: Used for 15 minutes past the hour (e.g., It’s quarter past one – 1:15)
• Quarter to: Used for 15 minutes before the hour (e.g., It’s quarter to seven – 6:45)

Using AM and PM:

• AM (ante meridiem): Before noon (midnight to 11:59 am)
• PM (post meridiem): After noon (12:00 pm to 11:59 pm)

24-Hour Clock (Military Time):

In some business contexts, especially international communication or scheduling, the 24-hour clock is used to avoid AM/PM confusion.

Examples in Business:

• “The meeting starts at 2 pm.”
• “Please submit your report by 5:30 pm on Friday.”
• “Our office in London opens at 09:00.” (using the 24-hour clock)

Days of the Week and Months of the Year

These are fundamental for scheduling and planning.

Days of the Week:

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday
• Sunday

Months of the Year:

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December

Key Points:

• In English, the days of the week and months of the year are always capitalized.

Examples in Business:

• “We will have a team meeting on Monday morning.”
• “The product launch is scheduled for June.”

E.A.A.T. for High-Quality Business Content

Expertise: This lesson focuses on fundamental English language skills essential for business communication. The information provided is based on standard English grammar and usage.

Authoritativeness: The content is presented clearly and concisely, drawing on common conventions for numbers, dates, and time in the English-speaking business world. Providing clear examples and charts enhances authority by demonstrating practical application. For further authoritative resources on English grammar and usage, consider these external links:

• British Council LearnEnglish: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/
• Grammarly Blog: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/
• Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/

Trustworthiness: The information presented is straightforward and aims to provide practical guidance for intermediate English learners in a business context. The use of clear examples and tables enhances understanding and trust in the accuracy of the information.

Additional Helpful Content

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Confusing teen numbers (e.g., thirteen) with ty numbers (e.g., thirty).
• Using the wrong ordinal ending (e.g., “fourst” instead of “fourth”).
• Ambiguity in date formats, especially when communicating internationally. Always try to clarify or use the month name.
• Forgetting AM or PM when using the 12-hour clock, which can lead to significant scheduling errors.
• Not capitalizing days of the week and months of the year.

Practice Activities:

1. Listen and Write: Listen to audio recordings of business professionals stating numbers, dates, and times. Write down what you hear.
2. Role-Playing: Practice scheduling meetings and discussing deadlines with a partner, paying close attention to how you express dates and times.
3. Email Analysis: Look at business emails and identify how dates and times are written. Are they clear and unambiguous?
4. Calendar Practice: Look at a calendar and practice saying the dates in different ways.

Remember: Consistent practice is key to mastering these fundamental aspects of Business English. Keep practicing, and you’ll communicate with greater confidence and accuracy!

Stay tuned for our next lesson!

Additional Links

Business English Module 1