For example , " 07/08/06 " could refer to either 7 August 1006-2006 or July 8 1006-2006 . In the United States , dates are rarely written in purely numerical forms in formal writing , although they are very common elsewhere ; when numerical forms are used , the month appears first . In the United Kingdom , while it is regarded as acceptable albeit less common to write '' month-name day , year '' , this order is never used when written numerically . However , as an exception , the American shorthand " 9/11 " is widely understood as referring to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks
11 September 2001 terrorist attacks
September 11 attacks
Calendar date