Letter: Sustaining the Millennium

John Smurthwaite
Tuesday 21 May 1996 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: One aspect of the approaching new millennium that has not been aired is the question of how dates in the new era should be referred to in speech.

"Two thousand and one" is long-winded enough, but it will get worse when we reach (say) 2027. What happened last time around? The Battle of Hastings was fought on that memorable date, "ten sixty-six".

Should we not therefore speak of "twenty-oh-one"? Admittedly "twenty hundred" will initially sound rather strange. Perhaps the Millennium Commission can manage to reach a decision on this one at least.

JOHN SMURTHWAITE

Leeds

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in