When writing dates and times, be clear and use consistent formatting. Review the good and bad examples of a date and time format below and keep reading to learn the reasons why.
Good Example
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 2:00 until 5:00 PM.
Bad Example
Wed. 1/7/26 2 pm – 5 p.m.
Clock formats
- Whether using the 12-hour or 24-hour clock format, do it consistently. For example, use “2:00 PM” or “14:00” but not both.
- Instead of dashes, which can be missed by screen readers, use the words “to,” “through,” or “until” to ensure clarity. Alternatively, use a table with header columns for “Start Time” and “End Time.”
- Avoid repeating AM and PM when the times listed are the same. For example, “6:00 until 7:00 PM” instead of “6:00 PM until 7:00 PM”
Date formats
- Use a clear date format like “Day, Month Date, Year,” avoiding abbreviations that can create unpredictable outputs from a screen reader. For example, use “Thursday, November 27, 2025,” instead of “Thurs. Nov. 27, 2025.”
- Avoid date formats that can be difficult to read and confusing due to differing regional formats. For example, use “January 7, 2026” instead of “01/07/2026.”
Digital Accessibility Tips
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act: All Minnesota State employee electronic documents and course materials must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards by April 24, 2026. These guidelines provide a comprehensive framework to ensure that content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users.