Which of the following rules on formatting dates and times in the body of a paper are correct according to the MLA Handbook (9th edition)?

1. A. When using the month-day-year style in prose, a comma must follow the year unless another punctuation mark follows it.
2. B. Use a comma between month and year or between season and year.
3. C. Decades can be written out or expressed in numerals.
4. D. Spell out centuries in uppercase letters.
5. E. Numerals are used for most times of the day; generally use the twelve-hour clock in prose.

1. AA, B and C only
2. BB, C and D only
3. CA, C and E only
4. DC, D and E only

Pick an option to check yourself, or open the answer below.

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. A, C and E only

Explanation

MLA 9 says to put a comma after the year in month-day-year dates in running text (A); decades may be spelled out ('the sixties') or numerical ('the 1960s') (C); and most times of day take numerals on the twelve-hour clock (E). B is wrong: no comma goes between month and year ('June 2025'). D is wrong: centuries are spelled out in lowercase ('the twentieth century').