Threatening confusion about the correct date notation from 2001

In abbreviated spelling for the year 2001, as "01", there is a risk of date confusion. If the year is written in two digits as before, it is no longer clear that it is the year in question. It could also mean the day or the month. The spelling is different: in continental Europe (TT-MM-JJ), in America (MM-TT-JJ) sometimes also (JJ-TT-MM).
The first February 2001 can therefore be written numerically as follows:
01-02-01 or 02-01-01 or 01-01-02.
The continental reading would, however, interpret the spelling 02-01-01 as the 2nd January 2001 and 01-01-02 as the 1st January 2002.
In documents where the date is essential (this includes, for example, invoices for tax purposes), from 2001 onwards, the ISO standard 8601 with the spelling JJJJ-MM-TT (2001-02-01) should be used exclusively to rule out any doubt. Additionally, it is recommended that when writing the date – if it is part of the contract – the standard should also be specified, especially if international law is applicable. Furthermore, a dash should be used in place of the dot.

Image: © webdata - Fotolia