BC & AD Dating Systems: What's the Difference?

Understanding the Two Systems

The BC/AD dating system is a way of counting years based on the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. AD stands for Anno Domini, Latin for "in the year of the Lord," and refers to the years after Christ's birth, while BC stands for Before Christ and refers to the years before his birth.

BC vs. BCE

The BCE/CE system is a more modern alternative to the BC/AD system. BCE stands for Before Common Era and CE stands for Common Era. These terms are more inclusive and do not refer to any particular religious figure.

Numerical Equivalence

The BC/AD and BCE/CE systems are numerically equivalent and indicate exactly the same dates. For example, 100 AD is the same as 100 CE, and 100 BC is the same as 100 BCE.

How to Use AD and BC

AD is always written after the year, while BC is always written before the year. For example, the year 2023 would be written as 2023 AD, and the year 50 BC would be written as 50 BC.

Conclusion

The BC/AD and BCE/CE dating systems are widely used to specify dates in a historical context. Understanding the difference between these systems is important for accurately interpreting and understanding historical events.