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{{Short description|Modern calendar era}}
{{Redirect|BCE|other uses|BCE (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024 |cs1-dates=ll}}
<!--NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: This article is about "Common Era" and "Before Common Era". It is NOT about the abbreviations CE and BCE, which have a separate article. Please do not add any alternative meanings of CE or BCE to this article. -->
'''Common Era''' ('''CE''') and '''Before the Common Era''' ('''BCE''') <!-- This article is about "Common Era". It is not about the abbreviation "CE". Please do not add any other association with that abbreviation as it will be deleted. --> are year notations for the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] or [[Julian calendar]], and are exactly equivalent to the [[Anno Domini|Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC)]] notations. The expressions "{{CURRENTYEAR}} CE" and "AD {{CURRENTYEAR}}" each equally describe the current year; "400 BCE" and "400 BC" are the same year too.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url = http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Anno%20Domini |title = Anno Domini |encyclopedia = Merriam Webster Online Dictionary |year = 2003 |publisher = Merriam-Webster |quote = Etymology: Medieval Latin, in the year of the Lord |access-date = 4 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/ce.htm |title=Controversy over the use of the "CE/BCE" and "AD/BC" dating notation/ |publisher=Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance|access-date=12 November 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303115803/http://www.religioustolerance.org/ce.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2000}}</ref> BCE/CE are primarily used to avoid religious connotations,<ref>{{cite web |title=Year dating conventions |first=Fred |last=Espenak | publisher= [[NASA]] | date=25 February 2008 |url=https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/dates.html |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref> by not referring to [[Jesus]] as {{lang|la|[[Dominus (title)|Dominus]]}} [Lord].<ref>{{cite news |author=Herrmann |first=Andrew |date=27 May 2006 |title=BCE date designation called more sensitive |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1620546.html |url-status=dead |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810211537/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1620546.html |archive-date=10 August 2017 |quote=The changes – showing up at museums, in academic circles and in school textbooks – have been touted as more sensitive to people of faiths outside of Christianity. ... The use of BCE and CE have rankled some Christians}}</ref><ref>{{Cite dictionary |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=UJ9PYdzKf90C&pg=PA41 41] |title=Westminster dictionary of theological terms |entry=C. E. |first=Donald K |last=McKim |year=1996 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978-0-664-25511-4}}</ref>{{efn |name="nostri"|AD is shortened from {{lang|la|anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi}} ("in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ").<ref name=Irvin />}}

== History ==
<!--NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS: This article is about "Common Era" and "Before Common Era". It is NOT about the abbreviations CE and BCE, which have a separate article. Please do not add any alternative meanings of CE or BCE to this article. -->

=== Anno Domini ===

Around the year 525, the Christian monk [[Dionysius Exiguus]] devised the principle of taking  the moment that he believed to be the [[Date of birth of Jesus#According to Dionysius|date of the incarnation of Jesus]] to be the point from which years are numbered (the [[epoch]]) of the Christian [[ecclesiastical calendar]].<ref name=Pedersen /><ref>Doggett, L.E., (1992), [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendars.html "Calendars"] in Seidelmann, P.K., ''The Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac'', Sausalito CA: University Science Books, 2.1</ref><ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=BW_1mt4oebQC&q=jesus+birth+year+before&pg=PA686 686]|title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |first=Geoffrey W. |last=Bromiley |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |year=1995 |isbn= 978-0-8028-3781-3}}</ref> Dionysius labeled the column of the table in which he introduced the new era as "{{Lang|la|[[Anno Domini|Anni Domini]] Nostri Jesu Christi}}" (the years of our Lord Jesus Christ).<ref name=Pedersen />{{rp|52}} He did this to replace the [[Era of the Martyrs]] system (then used for some [[date of Easter|Easter tables]]) because he did not wish to continue the memory of a tyrant who persecuted Christians.<ref name=Pedersen />{{rp|50}}

This way of numbering years became more widespread in Europe, with its use by [[Bede]] in England in 731. Bede also introduced the practice of dating years before 1 backwards, without a [[year zero]]{{efn|As noted in the [[history of zero]], the use of zero in Western civilization was uncommon before the twelfth century. Two other systems that also do not use religious titles, the [[Astronomical year numbering|astronomical system]] and the [[ISO 8601]] standard, do use zero. The year 1 BCE (or BC) is represented as 0 in the astronomical system, and as 0000 in ISO 8601.}} though the name "BC" for this era did not happen until much later.{{when|date=November 2025}}

=== Vulgar Era ===
{{wikt|vulgar}}
[[File:JKepler.jpg|thumb|[[Johannes Kepler]] (1571{{ndash}}1630), the German [[astronomer]], [[German mathematician|mathematician]], [[astrologer]], [[Natural philosophy|natural philosopher]] and writer on music<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Jeans |first=Susi |author-link=Susi Jeans |others=Revised by [[H. Floris Cohen]] |year=2013 |orig-year=2001 |encyclopedia=[[Grove Music Online]] |title=Kepler [Keppler], Johannes |chapter=Kepler &#91;Keppler&#93;, Johannes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |access-date=26 September 2021 |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.14903 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000014903 }} {{Grove Music subscription}}</ref>]]

The first use of the Latin term {{lang|la|anno aerae nostrae vulgaris}}{{Efn|name=VulgarisAerae0|In Latin, 'Common Era' is written as {{lang|la|Aera Vulgaris}}. It also occasionally appears, in Latin declination, as {{lang|la|æræ vulgaris}}, {{lang|la|aerae vulgaris}}, {{lang|la|aeram vulgarem}}, {{lang|la|anni vulgaris}}, {{lang|la|vulgaris aerae Christianae}}, and {{lang|la|anni vulgatae nostrae aerae Christianas}}.}} may be in a 1615 book by [[Johannes Kepler]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Coolman|first1=Robert|title=Keeping Time: The Origin of B.C. & A.D.|url=https://www.livescience.com/45510-anno-domini.html|website=Live Science|access-date=11 November 2017}}</ref><ref name=VulgarisAerae1 /> to distinguish the Anno Domini era, which was in popular use, from dates of the [[regnal year]] (the year of the reign of a sovereign) typically used in national law.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Weatherall| first = Claire| title = Library: Archival Skills: Historical dates| access-date = 21 September 2024| url = https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/archival-skills/historical-dates |website=University of Hull |date = 18 May 2023}}</ref> The word 'vulgar' originally meant 'of the ordinary people', with no derogatory associations.<ref name="OED vulgar"/> Kepler uses it again, as {{lang|la|ab Anno vulgaris aerae}}, in a 1616 table of [[Ephemeris|ephemerides]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Ephemerides novae motuum caelestium, ab Ānno vulgaris aerae MDCXVII en observationibus potissimum Tychonis Brahei hypothesibus physicis, et tabulis Rudolphinis... |first=Johann |last=Kepler |publisher=Plancus |year=1616 <!--|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0kElSQAACAAJ&q=vulgaris+aerae |url-status=dead --> }}</ref> and again, as {{lang|la|ab anno vulgaris aerae}}, in 1617.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ephemerides novae motuum coelestium, ab anno vulgaris aerae MDCXVII[-XXXVI]... |quote=Part 3 has title: Tomi L Ephemeridvm Ioannis Kepleri pars tertia, complexa annos à M.DC.XXIX. in M.DC.XXXVI. In quibus & tabb. Rudolphi jam perfectis, et sociâ operâ clariss. viri dn. Iacobi Bartschii ... Impressa Sagani Silesiorvm, in typographeio Ducali, svmptibvs avthoris, anno M.DC.XXX. |author-link=Johannes Kepler|first1=Johannes |last1=Keppler |first2=Jakob |last2=Bartsch |publisher=Johannes Plancus |year=1617 |trans-title= (per 1635 English edition): ''New Ephemerids for the Celestiall Motions, for the Yeeres of the Vulgar Era 1617–1636''}} (His third use of "vulgaris aerae" (1617))</ref> An English edition of that book from 1635 may contain the earliest known use of "Vulgar Era" in its title page.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ephemerides of the Celestiall Motions, for the Yeers of the Vulgar Era 1633&nbsp;... |author1=Johann Kepler |author2=Adriaan Vlacq |year=1635}}</ref>{{efn|As England did not adopt the Gregorian calendar [[Calendar (New Style) Act 1750|until 1752]], "vulgar" dates were determined according to the [[Julian calendar]].}} A 1701 book edited by John Le Clerc includes the phrase "Before Christ according to the Vulgar Æra,{{nbsp}}6".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Harmony of the Evangelists |editor-first=John |editor-last=Le Clerc |location=London |publisher=Sam Buckley |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jakGAAAAQAAJ&q=%22vulgar+era%22&pg=PA5-IA4 5] |year=1701 |quote=Before Christ according to the Vulgar Æra, 6}}</ref>

The [[Merriam-Webster Dictionary]] gives 1716 as the date of first use of the term "vulgar era" (which it defines as "Christian era").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulgarera |title=Merriam Webster Online entry for ''Vulgar Era'' | access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>{{efn|The probable source is a 1716 book in English by Dean [[Humphrey Prideaux]] which refers to, "...the vulgar Æra of Christ's incarnation and not from the true time of it."<ref>{{cite book |title=The Old and New Testament Connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations |author=Humphrey Prideaux, D.D.|author-link=Humphrey Prideaux |location=London 
|page=[https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_the-old-and-new-testamen_prideaux-humphrey_1716/page/n7/mode/1up? ii] |volume=1|year=1716 |edition=Second}}</ref> This citation is given in the 1933 edition of Oxford English Dictionary but without any assertion of first use.<ref name="OED vulgar">{{cite dictionary |title=Oxford English Dictionary |page=326 |entry=Vulgar |entry-url=https://archive.org/details/the-oxford-english-dictionary-1933-all-volumes/The%20Oxford%20English%20Dictionary%20Volume%2012%20-%20Variant/page/n329/mode/1up? |volume=12 |date=1933}}</ref>}}

=== Christian Era ===

The first published use of "Christian Era" may be the Latin phrase {{lang|la|annus aerae christianae}} on the title page of a 1584 theology book, {{lang|la|De Eucharistica controuersia}}.<ref>{{cite book |title={{lang|fr|Lire demain}}; Reading tomorrow  |chapter=Common Era 2.0 |last=Clivaz |first=Claire |page= [https://books.google.com/books?id=EbtYKIc0_Q4C&pg=PA38 38] |quote=... the expression "Christian era" appears in Latin in a 1584 theology book ([[Johann Jakob Grynaeus|Grynaeus]] and Beumler 1584) |publisher= EPFL Press |date=2012 |isbn=9782889141494}}</ref> In 1649, the Latin phrase {{lang|la|annus æræ Christianæ}} appeared in the title of an English almanac.<ref>{{cite book |title=Speculum uranicum, anni æræ Christianæ, 1649, or, An almanack and prognosication for the year of our Lord, 1649 being the first from bissextile or leap-year, and from the creation of the world 5598, wherein is contained many useful, pleasant and necessary observations, and predictions&nbsp;...&nbsp;: calculated (according to art) for the meridian and latitude of the ancient borough town of Stamford in Lincolnshire&nbsp;... and without sensible errour may serve the 3. kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland. |last=WING |first=Vincent |year=1649 |location=London |publisher=J.L. for the Company of Stationers |quote=anni æræ Christianæ, 1649}}</ref> A 1652 ephemeris may be the first instance of the English use of "Christian Era".<ref>{{cite book |title=A celestiall glasse, or, Ephemeris for the year of the Christian era 1652 being the bissextile or leap-year: contayning the lunations, planetary motions, configurations & ecclipses for this present year&nbsp;...&nbsp;: with many other things very delightfull and necessary for most sorts of men: calculated exactly and composed for&nbsp;... Rochester |author=Sliter, Robert |year=1652 |publisher=Printed for the Company of Stationers |location=London}}</ref> It is possible this influenced the wording choice of "Common Era" to have the same abbreviation.{{cn|date=November 2025}}

=== Common Era ===

The English phrase "Common Era" appears at least as early as 1708,<ref name=1708CommonInEnglish>{{cite book |title=The History of the Works of the Learned |volume=10 |number=9 |location=London |date=January 1708 |page=[https://archive.org/details/sim_history-of-the-works-of-the-learned_1708-09_10_9/page/n10/mode/1up 513] |quote=... to the fourth century of the Common Era}} (Possibly the first use of ''common era'' in English (1708))</ref> and in a 1715 book on astronomy, it is used interchangeably with "Christian Era" and "Vulgar Era".<ref>{{cite book |first=David|last=Gregory |title=The Elements of Astronomy, Physical and Geometrical |author2=John Nicholson|author3-link=John Morphew |author3= John Morphew |year=1715 |quote=Some say the World was created 3950 Years before the common Æra of Christ |page=[https://archive.org/details/elementsofastron00greg/page/252/mode/2up 252] |publisher=J. Nicholson |location=London |volume=1 }} ''Before Christ'' and ''Christian Era'' appear on the same page 252, while ''Vulgar Era'' appears on [https://archive.org/details/elementsofastron00greg/page/250/mode/2up page 250]</ref> A 1759 history book uses ''common æra'' in a generic sense to refer to "the common era of the Jews".<ref>{{cite book |title=An Universal History: From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time |first=George|last=Sale|author-link=George Sale |author2=Psalmanazar, George |author3=Bower, Archibald |author4=Shelvocke, George |author5=Campbell, John |author6= Swinton, John |year=1759 |quote=And it doth not appear, that they began to reckon from the creation till after their ''[[Gemarrah]]'' was finished;at which time they fixed that for their common era |publisher=C. Bathurst [etc.] |location=London |volume=13| page=[https://archive.org/details/anuniversalhist28swingoog/page/n145 130] |title-link=An Universal History: From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time}} [In this case, ''their'' refers to the Jews.]</ref> The phrase "before the common era" may have first appeared in a 1770 work that also uses ''common era'' and ''vulgar era'' as synonyms in a translation of a book originally written in German.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hooper|first=William |author2=Bielfeld, Jacob Friedrich |title=The Elements of Universal Erudition: Containing an Analytical Abridgment of the Sciences, Polite Arts, and Belles Lettres |volume=3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/elementsofuniver03bieluoft/page/63/mode/1up 63], [https://archive.org/details/elementsofuniver03bieluoft/page/105/mode/1up?view=theater 105] |year=1770 |publisher=J Robson and B. Law  |location=London |quote=The Spanish era began with the year of the world 3966, and 38 years before the common era (p63); 1796 years before the common era [...] 776 before the vulgar era. (p105) }} [Possibly the first English use of "before the common era", with "vulgar era" synonymous with "common era" (1770)]</ref> The 1797 edition of the [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] uses the terms ''vulgar era'' and ''common era'' synonymously.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=W3xMAAAAMAAJ&q=%22vulgar+era%22&pg=RA1-PA228 228] |entry=Peter |quote=St Peter died in the 66th year of the vulgar era  |date=1797 |publisher=A. Bell and C. Macfarquhar |author1=MacFarquhar, Colin |author2=Gleig, George}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=W3xMAAAAMAAJ&q=%22common+era%22&pg=PA50 50]|entry=Paul |quote=This happened in the 33rd year of the common era, some time after our Saviour's death. |date=1797 |publisher=A. Bell and C. Macfarquhar |author1=MacFarquhar, Colin |author2=Gleig, George }}</ref> 
In 1835, in his book ''[[Living Oracles]]'', [[Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement)|Alexander Campbell]] wrote: "The vulgar Era, or Anno Domini; the fourth year of Jesus Christ, the first of which was but eight days".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/acampbell/tlo4/TLO400L4.HTM |title=The Living Oracles, Fourth Edition |year=1835 |author=Alexander Campbell |pages=16–20 |access-date=18 May 2011|author-link=Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement) }}</ref> He refers to the ''common era'' as a synonym for ''vulgar era'': "the fact that our Lord was born on the 4th year before the vulgar era, called Anno Domini, thus making (for example) the 42d year from his birth to correspond with the 38th of the common era".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/texts/acampbell/tlo4/TLO400L3.HTM |title=The Living Oracles, Fourth Edition |year=1835 |author=Alexander Campbell |pages=15–16 |access-date=18 May 2011|author-link=Alexander Campbell (Restoration movement) }}</ref> The ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' (1909), in at least one article, reports all three terms (Christian, Vulgar, Common Era) being commonly understood by the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite Encyclopedia |title=Catholic Encyclopedia |entry-url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03738a.htm#christian |entry=General Chronology |quote=Foremost among these [various eras] is that which is now adopted by all civilized peoples and known as the Christian, Vulgar or Common Era, in the twentieth century of which we are now living}}.</ref>

The phrase "common era", in [[lower case]], also appeared in the 19th century in a "generic" sense, not necessarily to refer to the Christian Era, but to any system of dates in everyday use throughout a civilization. Thus, "the common era of the Jews",<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | entry=Epoch |entry-url=https://archive.org/details/popularencyclop13encygoog/page/207/mode/1up? |quote=the common era of the Jews places the creation in BC 3760 | title=Popular Encyclopedia or Conversations Lexicon |publisher=Oxford University Press |editor=A. Whitelaw |editor-link=Alexander Whitelaw (editor)|year=1874 |page=207 |volume=V}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=e6oCAAAAQAAJ&q=%22common+era+of+the+jews%22&pg=PA176 176] |title=The first and second Advent: or, The past and the future with reference to the Jew, the gentile, and the Church of God |date=1858 |quote=Hence the present year, 1858, in the common era of the Jews, is AM 5618–5619, a difference of more than 200 years from our commonly-received chronology. |publisher=Wertheim, MacIntosh & Hunt }}</ref> "the common era of the Mahometans",<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924084318892/page/n7/mode/1up 4] |title=Practical tables for the reduction of Mahometan dates to the Christian calendar  |quote=Its epoch is the first of March old style. The common era of the Mahometans, as has already been stated, is that of the flight of Mahomet. |author1=Gumpach, Johannes von |date=1856 |publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref> "common era of the world",<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=bXIAAAAAMAAJ&q=%22common+era+of+the%22&pg=PA354 354]  |title=The Theological, Philosophical and Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. William Jones |url=https://archive.org/details/theologicalphil09jonegoog |first=William|last=Jones |date=1801 |location=London|publisher=Rivington}}</ref> or "the common era of the foundation of Rome".<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=6FKHIeUQ2J0C&q=%22common+era+of+the+foundation+of+rome%22&pg=PA284 284]  |date=1854 |title=Universal History: From the Creation of the World to the Beginning of the Eighteenth Century |author=[[Alexander Fraser Tytler]] |publisher=Fetridge and Company |location=Boston}}</ref> When it did refer to the Christian Era, it was sometimes qualified (e.g., "common era of the Incarnation",<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=HKgMAAAAYAAJ&q=%22common+era+of+the+incarnation%22&pg=PA711 711] | last=Baynes |first=Thomas Spencer |date=1833 |title=The Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature |location=New York |publisher=Henry G. Allen and Company |edition=9 |volume=V }}</ref> "common era of the Nativity",<ref>{{cite book |quote=It should be observed, however, that these years correspond to 492 and 493, a portion of the [[annals of Ulster]] being counted from the Incarnation, and being, therefore, one year before the common era of the Nativity of our Lord. |last=Todd |first=James Henthorn |date=1864 |title=St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, A Memoir of his Life and Mission |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924029424110  |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924029424110/page/495]{{ndash}}497 |publisher=Hodges, Smith & Co |location=Dublin |author-link=James Henthorn Todd }}</ref> or "common era of the birth of Christ").<ref>{{cite book |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PGdCAAAAIAAJ&q=%22common+era+of+the%22&pg=PR16 xvi]  |title=Annotations on the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles |author=Heneage Elsley |date=1812 |edition=2nd |publisher= T. Payne |location=London |no-pp=true}}</ref>

An adapted translation of ''Common Era'' into [[Latin]] as {{lang|la|Era Vulgaris}}{{efn|''era''{{snd}} or, with a [[Macron (diacritic)|macron]], {{lang|la|ēra}}{{snd}} being an alternative form of {{lang|la|aera}}; {{lang|la|aera}} is the usual form<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français]] |author=[[Félix Gaffiot]] |publisher=[[Hachette (publisher)|Hachette]] |date=1934}}</ref>}} was adopted in the 20th century by some followers of [[Aleister Crowley]], and thus the abbreviation "e.v." or "EV" may sometimes be seen as a replacement for AD.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley |first=Richard |last=Kaczynski |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1adnRtKaWakC&pg=PA48 48]  |publisher=Weiser Books |date=1 April 2009}}</ref>

=== Judaism ===
Although [[Jews]] have the [[Hebrew calendar]], they often use the Gregorian calendar without the AD prefix, as [[Judaism]] does not recognize Jesus as the [[Messiah in Judaism|Messiah]].<ref>{{cite web |quote=Jews do not generally use the words 'A.D.' and 'B.C.' to refer to the years on the Gregorian calendar. 'A.D.' means 'the year of our [[L-rd]],' and we do not believe Jesus is the L-rd. Instead, we use the abbreviations C.E. (Common or Christian Era) and B.C.E. (Before the Common Era). |author=Tracey R Rich |url=http://www.jewfaq.org/calendar.htm#Years | title=Jewish Calendar |website=Judaism 101 | access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref> As early as 1825, the abbreviation VE (for Vulgar Era) was in use among Jews to denote years in the Western calendar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/susser/plymouthinscriptions.htm |title= Plymouth Hoe Old Jewish Cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions 3 |date=2003 |publisher=Jewish Communities & Records, Susser Archive |editor-first1=Bernard |editor-last1=Susser |quote=Here is buried his honour Judah ben his honour Joseph, a prince and honoured amongst philanthropists, who executed good deeds, died in his house in the City of Bath, Tuesday, and was buried here on Sunday, 19 Sivan in the year 5585. In memory of Lyon Joseph Esq (merchant of Falmouth, Cornwall). who died at Bath June AM 5585/VE 1825. Beloved and respected. |access-date=18 May 2011}} [19 Sivan 5585 [[Anno Mundi|AM]] is 5 June 1825. VE is likely an abbreviation for ''Vulgar Era''.]</ref> ''Common Era'' has been in use for Hebrew lessons since before 1905.<ref name=Gormley /> Jews have also used the term ''Current Era''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/history/history_1.shtml#section_2 | title=History of Judaism 63 BCE – 1086 CE| date=8 February 2005 |author=BBC Team |work=BBC Religion & Ethics |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation | access-date=20 April 2016}}</ref>

== Contemporary usage ==
Some academics in the fields of [[theology]], [[education]], [[archaeology]] and [[history]] have adopted CE and BCE notation despite some disagreement.<ref>See, for example, the Society for Historical Archaeology states in its more recent style guide "Do not use CE (common era), BP (before present), or BCE; convert these expressions to AD and BC." (In section I 5 the Society explains how to use "years BP" in connection with [[radiocarbon dating|radiocarbon ages]].) {{cite web |url=https://sha.org/documents/SHAStyleGuide-Dec2011.pdf |title=Style Guide |author=Society for Historical Archaeology |date=December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419052334/http://www.sha.org/documents/SHAStyleGuide-Dec2011.pdf |archive-date=19 April 2016 |access-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=live }} whereas the [[American Anthropological Association]] style guide takes a different approach, supporting the use of "CE" and "BCE." {{cite web |url=http://www.aaanet.org/publications/guidelines.cfm |title=AAA Style Guide |format=PDF |author=American Anthropological Society
|date=2009 |access-date=26 May 2015 |page=3}}</ref> A study conducted in 2014 found that the BCE/CE notation is not growing at the expense of BC and AD notation in the scholarly literature, and that both notations are used in a relatively stable fashion.<ref>{{Cite journal |last= Cavacini|first= A. |title= Is the CE/BCE notation becoming a standard in scholarly literature? |journal= Scientometrics |date = 2015 |volume= 102 |issue= 2 |pages= 1661–1668 |doi= 10.1007/s11192-014-1352-1 |s2cid= 255011561 |url= https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-014-1352-1|url-access= subscription }}</ref> 

===Australia===
In 2011, media reports suggested that the BC/AD notation in Australian school textbooks would be replaced by BCE/CE notation.<ref>{{Cite news |last= Malkin |first= Bonnie |title= Anger in Australia as school books 'write Christ out of history' |work= The Telegraph |date = 2 September 2011 |location= London |access-date= 1 January 2020 |issn= 0307-1235 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8736932/Anger-in-Australia-as-school-books-write-Christ-out-of-history.html}}</ref> The change drew opposition from some politicians and church leaders. Weeks after the story broke, the [[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]] denied the rumours and stated that the BC/AD notation would remain, with CE and BCE as an optional suggested learning activity.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/adbc-rock-solid-in-curriculum-20111020-1mab2.html |title=AD/BC rock solid in curriculum |date=21 October 2011|access-date=4 March 2012 |location=Melbourne |work=The Age}}</ref>

===Canada===
In 2013, the [[Canadian Museum of Civilization]] (now the Canadian Museum of History) in [[Gatineau]] (opposite [[Ottawa]]), which had previously switched to BCE/CE, decided to change back to BC/AD in material intended for the public while retaining BCE/CE in academic content.<ref>[https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/museum-of-civilization-putting-the-christ-back-in-history-as-bc-and-ad-return "Museum of Civilization putting the 'Christ' back in history as BC and AD return"], by Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press, ''National Post'', 27 February 2013</ref>

===Nepal===
The notation is in particularly common use in [[Nepal]] in order to disambiguate dates from the local (Indian or Hindu) calendar, Bikram or Vikram Sambat. Disambiguation is needed because the era of the Hindu calendar is quite close to the Common Era.

===United Kingdom===
In 2002, an advisory panel for the religious education syllabus for [[England and Wales]] recommended introducing BCE/CE dates to schools,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-531644-ad-and-bc-become-cebce.do |title=AD and BC become CE/BCE |date=9 February 2002 |access-date=5 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220120909/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-531644-ad-and-bc-become-cebce.do |archive-date=20 December 2011 |work=This is London}}</ref> and by 2018 some local education authorities were using them.<ref name=Tel-NT />  

In 2018, the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] said it would continue to use BC/AD as its house style.<ref name=Tel-NT>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/12/national-trust-tells-properties-stick-anno-domini-historic-site/ "National Trust tells properties to stop dropping BC and AD out of fear it might offend non-Christians"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', by Henry Bodkin, 12 November 2018</ref> [[English Heritage]] explains its era policy thus: "It might seem strange to use a Christian calendar system when referring to British prehistory, but the BC/AD labels are widely used and understood."<ref>[https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history-and-stories/history/stonehenge-glossary/ Stonehenge glossary, "BC and AD"] English Heritage</ref> Some parts of the BBC use BCE/CE, but some presenters have said they will not.<ref name=Tel-NT /> As of October 2019, the BBC News style guide has entries for AD and BC, but not for CE or BCE.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC News style guide |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/collections/news-style-guide |website=BBC |access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref>  The style guide for ''[[The Guardian]]'' says, under the entry for CE/BCE: "some people prefer CE (common era, current era, or Christian era) and BCE (before common era, etc.) to AD and BC, which, however, remain our style".<ref>{{cite web |title=Guardian style guide |url=https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-c |website=Guardian |access-date=5 October 2019}}</ref>

===United States===
In the United States, the use of the BCE/CE notation in [[textbook]]s was reported in 2005 to be growing.<ref name=Gormley /> Some publications have transitioned to using it exclusively. For example, the 2007 [[World Almanac]] was the first edition to switch to BCE/CE, ending a period of 138 years in which the traditional BC/AD dating notation was used. BCE/CE is used by the [[College Board]] in its history tests,<ref>{{cite web |title= AP: World History |url=http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/history_world/topic.html?worldhist |access-date=18 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505010633/http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/history_world/topic.html?worldhist |archive-date= 5 May 2011 |url-status= dead}}</ref> and by the [[Norton Anthology of English Literature]]. Others have taken a different approach. The US-based [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] uses BCE/CE notation in articles on non-Christian religious topics such as [[Religious significance of Jerusalem#Jerusalem, Jews and Judaism|Jerusalem and Judaism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/topics/jerusalem |title=Jerusalem Timeline |publisher=History Channel |access-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520111303/http://www.history.com/topics/jerusalem |archive-date=20 May 2011 }};{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/topics/jerusalem |title=Jerusalem: Biographies |publisher=History Channel |access-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520111303/http://www.history.com/topics/jerusalem |archive-date=20 May 2011 }}</ref> The 2006 style guide for the Episcopal Diocese ''Maryland Church News'' says that BCE and CE should be used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ang-md.org/mcn/style_guide.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060620230309/http://ang-md.org/mcn/style_guide.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2006 |title=Maryland Church News Submission Guide & Style Manual |work=Maryland Church News |date=1 April 2005 |access-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref> The US-based [[Society of Biblical Literature]] style guide for academic texts on religion prefers BCE/CE to BC/AD.<ref>''SBL Handbook of Style'' [[Society of Biblical Literature]] 1999 "8.1.2 ERAS – The preferred style is B.C.E. and C.E. (with periods). If you use A.D. and B.C., remember that A.D. precedes the date and B.C. follows it. (For the use of these abbreviations in titles, see §&nbsp;7.1.3.2.)"</ref>

In June 2006, in the United States, the Kentucky State School Board reversed its decision to use BCE and CE in the state's new Program of Studies, leaving education of students about these concepts a matter of local discretion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tffky.org/articles/Press%20Releases/prs%2006-14-06%20MC.html |title=State School Board reverses itself on B.C./A.D. controversy |publisher=Family Foundation of Kentucky |access-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427032052/http://www.tffky.org/articles/Press%20Releases/prs%2006-14-06%20MC.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://legacy.kctcs.edu/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2006-06-16#5119 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710123618/http://legacy.kctcs.edu/todaysnews/index.cfm?tn_date=2006-06-16#5119 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2009 |title=School board keeps traditional historic designations |author=Joe Biesk |newspaper=Louisville Courier-Journal |date=15 June 2006 |access-date=18 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5F08162C-899F-47FE-9367-1DDD82DE74E6/0/6_CommissionerofEdReport.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926165947/http://cpe.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5F08162C-899F-47FE-9367-1DDD82DE74E6/0/6_CommissionerofEdReport.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2006|title=Kentucky Board of Education Report |publisher=Kentucky Board of Education Report |date=10 June 2006 |access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>

== Rationales ==
<!-- Please do not add personal opinions or theories in favour or against this notation, as they will be deleted.  Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not an open forum. The article may only reflect the logically argued positions of subject experts, not just anyone with an opinion. -->

=== Support ===
The use of CE in Jewish scholarship was historically motivated by the desire to avoid the implicit "Our Lord" in the abbreviation ''AD''.{{efn| name="nostri"}} Although other aspects of dating systems are based in Christian origins, AD is a direct reference to [[Jesus is Lord|Jesus as Lord]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The American and English Encyclopedia of Law and Practice|year=1910|page=1116|quote=It has been said of the Latin words anno Domini, meaning in the year of our Lord&nbsp;...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=World Religions At Your Fingertips|author1=Michael McDowell |author2=Nathan Robert Brown |publisher=Penguin|year=2009|isbn=978-1-101-01469-1|page=38|quote=Marked by the turn of the Common Era, C.E., originally referred to as A.D., an abbreviation of the Latin {{lang|la|Anno Domini}}, meaning 'Year of our God/Lord.' This was a shortening of {{lang|la|Anno Domini Nostri Jesu Christi}}, meaning 'Year of our God/Lord Jesus Christ.'}}</ref><ref name="Ostling">{{cite magazine |title=BC/AD Dating: In the year of whose Lord?|first=Michael|last=Ostling  |magazine=History Today |volume=59 |issue=10 |date=October 2009 |url=https://www.historytoday.com/archive/bcad-dating-year-whose-lord |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Proponents of the Common Era notation assert that the use of BCE/CE shows sensitivity to those who use the same year numbering system as the one that originated with and is currently used by [[Christianity|Christians]], but who are not themselves Christian.<ref name="RelTolrnc" /> Former United Nations Secretary-General [[Kofi Annan]] has argued:<ref>{{cite news |last=Lefevere |first=Patricia |title=Annan: 'Peace is never a perfect achievement'&nbsp;– United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan |newspaper=National Catholic Reporter |date=11 December 1998 |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_7_35/ai_53460476 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713031248/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_7_35/ai_53460476/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |access-date=26 February 2008 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|[T]he Christian calendar no longer belongs exclusively to Christians. People of all faiths have taken to using it simply as a matter of convenience. There is so much interaction between people of different faiths and cultures – different civilizations, if you like – that some shared way of reckoning time is a necessity. And so the Christian Era has become the Common Era.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/articleFull.asp?TID=37 |title=Common values for a common era: Even as we cherish our diversity, we need to discover our shared values |last=Annan |first=Kofi A. |author-link=Kofi Annan |date=28 June 1999 |publisher=Civilization: The Magazine of the Library of Congress |access-date=2011-05-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501020027/http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/articleFull.asp?TID=37 |archive-date=2011-05-01 }}</ref>}}

Adena K. Berkowitz, in her application to argue before the [[United States Supreme Court]], opted to use BCE and CE because, "Given the multicultural society that we live in, the traditional Jewish designations{{snd}}B.C.E. and C.E.{{snd}} cast a wider net of inclusion."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/17/magazine/bc-ad-or-bce-ce.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814202630/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/17/magazine/bc-ad-or-bce-ce.html |archive-date=14 August 2018 |title=B.C./A.D. or B.C.E./C.E.? |last=Safire |first= William |date=17 August 1997 |work=New York Times}}</ref> In the [[World History Encyclopedia]], Joshua J. Mark wrote "Non-Christian scholars, especially, embraced [CE and BCE] because they could now communicate more easily with the Christian community. Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist scholars could retain their [own] calendar but refer to events using the Gregorian Calendar as BCE and CE without compromising their own beliefs about the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth."<ref>{{cite Encyclopedia |entry=The Origin & History of the BCE/CE Dating System. |title=World History Encyclopedia |first=Joshua J. |last=Mark |date=27 March 2017 |entry-url=https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1041/the-origin--history-of-the-bcece-dating-system/ |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref> In ''[[History Today]]'', Michael Ostling wrote: "BC/AD Dating: In the year of whose Lord? The continuing use of AD and BC is not only factually wrong but also offensive to many who are not Christians."<ref name="Ostling" />

=== Opposition ===
Critics note the fact that there is no difference in the [[epoch]] of the two systems—chosen to be close to the [[date of birth of Jesus]]. Since the year numbers are the same, BCE and CE dates should be equally offensive to other religions as BC and AD.<ref name="Pollick-2024">{{Cite web |title=What is the Difference Between AD, BC, BCE, and CE in Identifying Historical Dates? |url=http://www.historicalindex.org/what-is-the-difference-between-ad-bc-bce-and-ce-in-identifying-historical-dates.htm |website=Historical Index |first=Michael |last=Pollick |date= 23 May 2024 |access-date=21 August 2024}}</ref> [[Roman Catholic]] priest and writer on interfaith issues [[Raimon Panikkar]] argued that the BCE/CE usage is the less inclusive option since they are still using the Christian calendar numbers and forcing it on other nations.<ref name=Panikkar>{{Cite book |first=Raimon |last=Panikkar |author-link=Raimon Panikkar |title=Christophany: The Fullness of Man |location=Maryville, NY |publisher=Orbis Books |year=2004 |page=173|quote=To call our age 'the Common Era,' even though for the Jews, the Chinese, the Tamil, the Muslims, and many others it is not a common era, constitutes the acme of colonialism.|isbn=978-1-57075-564-4}}</ref> In 1993, the English-language expert [[Kenneth G. Wilson (author)|Kenneth G. Wilson]] speculated a [[slippery slope]] scenario in his style guide that, "if we do end by casting aside the AD/BC convention, almost certainly some will argue that we ought to cast aside as well the conventional numbering system [that is, the method of numbering years] itself, given its Christian basis."<ref name=Wilson />

Some [[Christians]] are offended by the removal of the reference to Jesus.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20061202/ai_n16891064|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012132926/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20061202/ai_n16891064|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2007|last=Whitney|first=Susan|title=Altering history? Changes have some asking 'Before what?'|newspaper=The Deseret News|date=2 December 2006|quote='I find this attempt to restructure history offensive,' Lori Weintz wrote, in a letter to National Geographic publishers.&nbsp;... 'The forward to your book says B.C. and A.D. were removed so as to "not impose the standards of one culture on others."&nbsp;... It's 2006 this year for anyone on Earth that is participating in day-to-day world commerce and communication. Two thousand six years since what? Most people know, regardless of their belief system, and aren't offended by a historical fact.'|access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>

== Conventions in style guides ==
The abbreviation BCE, just as with BC, always follows the year number. Unlike AD, which still often precedes the year number, CE always follows the year number (if context requires that it be written at all).<ref>{{cite book | title = Chicago Manual of Style | edition = 17th | isbn = 978-0-226-28705-8 | date = 2017 | publisher = University of Chicago Press | at = ¶ 9.34  }}</ref> Thus, the current year is written as {{CURRENTYEAR}} in both notations (or, if further clarity is needed, as {{CURRENTYEAR}} CE, or as AD {{CURRENTYEAR}}), and the year that [[Socrates]] died is represented as 399 BCE (the same year that is represented by 399 BC in the BC/AD notation). The abbreviations are sometimes written with small capital letters, or with [[Full stop|periods]] (e.g., "<span style="font-size:87%;">B.C.E.</span>" or "C.E.").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/about15_rules.html |title=Major Rule Changes in The Chicago Manual of Style, Fifteenth Edition |year=2003 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |quote=Certain abbreviations traditionally set in small caps are now in full caps (AD, BCE, and the like), with small caps an option. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070909071543/http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/about15_rules.html|archive-date=9 September 2007|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

== Similar conventions in other languages ==
* In [[Germany]], Jews in [[Berlin]] seem to have already been using words translating to "(before the) common era" in the 18th century, while others like [[Moses Mendelssohn]] opposed this usage as it would hinder the integration of Jews into German society.<ref name="Jewish Joke" /> The formulation seems to have persisted among German Jews in the 19th century in forms like {{lang|de|vor der gewöhnlichen Zeitrechnung}} (before the common chronology).<ref>{{lang|de|Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums. Ein unpartheiisches Organ für alles jüdische Interesse, II. Jahrgang, No. 60, Leipzig, 19. Mai 1838}} (19 May 1838). See page 175 in [https://books.google.com/books?id=pwxFAAAAcAAJ Allgemeine Zeitung des Judenthums: Ein unpartheiisches Organ für alles jüdische Interesse in Betreff von Politik, Religion, Literatur, Geschichte, Sprachkunde und Belletristik, Volume 2] (Leipzig 1838).</ref><ref>{{aut|[[Julius Fürst]]}}, {{lang|de|Geschichte des Karäerthums von 900 bis 1575 der gewöhnlichen Zeitrechnung}} (Leipzig 1862–1869).</ref> In 1938 [[Nazi Germany]], the use of this convention was also prescribed by the [[National Socialist Teachers League]].<ref>{{cite web |page=149 |first=Karl Ludwig Freiherr |last=von und zu Guttenberg |author-link=Karl Ludwig Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg |url=http://www.monarchieforum.org/ARCHIV/WeisseBlaetter/MAI1938.pdf |date=May 1938 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119145938/http://www.monarchieforum.org/ARCHIV/WeisseBlaetter/MAI1938.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2012 |title=Weiße Blätter: Monatschrift für Geschichte, Tradition u. Staat |access-date=15 April 2018 }}</ref> However, it was soon discovered that many German Jews had been using the convention ever since the 18th century, and [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] found it ironic to see "[[Aryan]]s following Jewish example nearly 200 years later".<ref name="Jewish Joke">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,759195,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717061654/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,759195,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2010 |title=GERMANY: Jewish Joke |date=7 March 1938|access-date=5 February 2012 |magazine=Time}}</ref>
* In [[Spanish language|Spanish]], common forms used for "BC" are {{Lang|es|a. C.}} and {{Lang|es|a. de C.}} (for "{{Lang|es|antes de Cristo}}", "before Christ"), with variations in punctuation and sometimes the use of {{Lang|es|J. C.}} ({{Lang|es|Jesucristo}}) instead of {{Lang|es|C}}. The {{Lang|es|[[Real Academia Española]]|italic=no}} also acknowledges the use of {{Lang|es|a. n. e.}} ({{Langx|es|antes de nuestra era|lit=before our era|label=none}}) and {{lang|es|d. n. e.}} ({{Langx|es|después de nuestra era|lit=after our era|label=none}}).<ref name="RAE">{{cite book |title=Ortografía de la lengua española |date=2010 |publisher=Real Academia Española y Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española |page=695 |edition=online |url=http://aplica.rae.es/orweb/cgi-bin/z.cgi?t=4852746440070813319661357&s=2 |language=es}}</ref> In scholarly writing, {{Lang|es|a. e. c.}} is the equivalent of the English "BCE", "{{Lang|es|antes de la era común}}" or "Before the Common Era".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spanish.about.com/od/writtenspanish/qt/dates.htm |title=Writing Dates in Spanish |access-date=5 February 2012 |archive-date=11 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111060109/http://spanish.about.com/od/writtenspanish/qt/dates.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* In [[Welsh language|Welsh]], OC can be expanded to equivalents of both AD ({{lang|cy|Oed Crist}}) and CE ({{lang|cy|Oes Cyffredin}}); for dates before the Common Era, CC (traditionally, {{lang|cy|Cyn Crist}}) is used exclusively.
* In [[Russian language|Russian]] since the [[October Revolution]] (1917) {{lang|ru|до н.э. (до нашей эры}}, lit. ''before our era'') and {{lang|ru|н.э. (нашей эры,}} lit. ''of our era'') are used almost universally. Within Christian churches {{lang|ru|до Р.Х./от Р.Х. (до/от Рождества Христова}}, i.e. ''before/after the birth of Christ'', equivalent to {{langx|la|[[Ante Christum natum]]}}) remains in use.
* In [[Polish language|Polish]], "p.n.e." ({{lang|pl|przed naszą erą}}, lit. ''before our era'') and "n.e." ({{lang|pl|naszej ery}}, lit. ''of our era'') are commonly used in historical and scientific literature. {{lang|pl|Przed Chrystusem}} (''before Christ'') and {{lang|pl|po Chrystusie}} (''after Christ'') see sporadic usage, mostly in religious publications.
*In [[China]], upon the foundation of the [[Republic of China]], the [[Provisional Government of the Republic of China (1912)|Government in Nanking]] adopted the [[Republic of China calendar]] with 1912 designated as year 1, but used the Western calendar for international purposes. The translated term was {{lang-zh|西元}} ({{lang|zh|xī yuán}}, "Western Era"), which is still used in [[Taiwan]] in formal documents. In 1949, the [[People's Republic of China]] adopted {{lang|zh|公元}} ({{lang|zh|gōngyuán}}, "Common Era") for both internal and external affairs in [[mainland China]]. This notation was extended to Hong Kong in 1997 and Macau in 1999 (de facto extended in 1966) through Annex III of [[Hong Kong Basic Law]] and [[Macau Basic Law]], thus eliminating the ROC calendar in these areas. BCE is translated into Chinese as {{lang|zh|公元前}} ({{lang|zh|gōngyuánqián}}, "Before the Common Era").
* In [[Czech language|Czech]], the "n. l." ({{lang|cs|našeho letopočtu}} which translates as ''of our year count'') and "př. n. l." or "před n. l." ({{lang|cs|před naším letopočtem}} meaning ''before our year count'') is used, always after the year number. The direct translation of AD ({{lang|cs|léta Páně}}, abbreviated as ''L. P.'') or BC ({{lang|cs|před Kristem}}, abbreviated as ''př. Kr.'') is seen as archaic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prirucka.ujc.cas.cz/?id=780|title=Jazyková příručka Ústavu pro jazyk český|access-date=15 May 2020}}</ref>
*In [[Croatian language|Croatian]] the common form used for ''BC'' and ''AD'' are ''pr. Kr.'' (''prije Krista'', "before Christ")<ref>{{Cite web|title=pr. Kr. |website=Hrvatski jezični portal|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=dl9nXRQ=|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref> and ''p. Kr.'' (''poslije Krista'', ''after Christ'').<ref>{{Cite web|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=eV1lWBA=|access-date=16 March 2021|title=p. Kr.}}</ref> The abbreviations ''pr. n. e.'' (''prije nove ere, before new era'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=pr. n. e. |website=Hrvatski jezični portal|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=dl9nXxQ=|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref> and ''n. e. (nove ere, (of the) new era'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=n. e. |website=Hrvatski jezični portal|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=eF9iXRY=|access-date=16 March 2021}}</ref> have also recently been introduced.
* In [[Danish language|Danish]], "f.v.t." ({{lang|da|før vor tidsregning}}, ''before our time reckoning'') and "e.v.t." ({{lang|da|efter vor tidsregning}}, ''after our time reckoning'') are used as BCE/CE are in English. Also commonly used are "f.Kr." ({{lang|da|før Kristus}}, ''before Christ'') and "e.Kr." ({{lang|da|efter Kristus}}, ''after Christ''), which are both placed after the year number in contrast with BC/AD in English.
* In [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]], the terms "п.н.е." (пред нашата ера "before our era") and "н.е." (наша ера "our era")  are used in every aspect.{{cn|date=March 2023}}
* In [[Estonian language|Estonian]], "e.m.a." ({{lang|et|enne meie ajaarvamist}}, ''before our time reckoning'') and "m.a.j." ({{lang|et|meie ajaarvamise järgi}}, ''according to our time reckoning'') are used as BCE and CE, respectively. Also in use are terms "eKr" ({{lang|et|enne Kristust}}, ''before Christ'') and "pKr" ({{lang|et|pärast Kristust}}, ''after Christ''). In all cases, the abbreviation is written after the year number.
* In [[Finnish language|Finnish]], "eaa." ({{lang|fi|ennen ajanlaskun alkua}}, ''before time reckoning'') and "jaa." ({{lang|fi|jälkeen ajanlaskun alun}}, ''after the start of time reckoning'') are used as BCE and CE, respectively. Also (decreasingly) in use are terms "eKr", ({{lang|fi|ennen Kristusta}}, ''before Christ'') and "jKr". ({{lang|fi|jälkeen Kristuksen}}, ''after Christ''). In all cases, the abbreviation is written after the year number.

== See also ==
{{Portal|History}}
* [[Astronomical year numbering]]
* [[Before Present]]
* [[Calendar]]
* [[Calendar reform]]
* [[Holocene Era]]
* [[List of calendars]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist|2}}

== References ==
{{reflist|1=2|refs=
<ref name="VulgarisAerae1">{{cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rrkRjuY3p0gC/page/n10/ |oclc = 62188677 |quote={{lang|la|Dabam Pragae Idibus Aprilibus, Anno vulgaris aerae MDCXII}} |author=Johannes Kepler|title=Joannis Keppleri Eclogae chronicae: (etc) |publisher=Tampach |location=Frankfurt |language=la |year=1615 |author-link=Johannes Kepler}} (Earliest-found use of "{{lang|la|vulgaris aerae}}", Latin for Common Era) (1615)</ref>
<ref name="Irvin">{{cite book|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=C2akvQfa-QMC&pg=PR11 xi] |title=History of the World Christian Movement |first1=Dale T. |last1=Irvin |last2=Sunquist |first2=Scott |date=2001 |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |isbn=0-567-08866-9 |quote=The influence of western culture and scholarship upon the rest of the world in turn led to this system of dating becoming the most widely used one across the globe today. Many scholars in historical and religious studies in the West in recent years have sought to lessen the explicitly Christian meaning of this system without abandoning the usefulness of a single, common, global form of dating. For this reason the terms ''common era'' and ''before the common era'', abbreviated as CE and BCE, have grown in popularity as designations. The terms are meant, in deference to non-Christians, to soften the explicit theological claims made by the older Latin terminology, while at the same time providing continuity with earlier generations of mostly western Christian historical research}}</ref>
<ref name="Pedersen">{{cite book |title= Gregorian Reform of the Calendar: Proceedings of the Vatican Conference to commemorate its 400th anniversary |url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?journal=grc..&year=1983&volume=book&letter=.&db_key=PRE&page_ind=66&plate_select=NO&data_type=GIF&type=SCREEN_GIF&classic=YES |last=Pedersen |first=O. |date=1983 |chapter=The Ecclesiastical Calendar and the Life of the Church |chapter-url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?journal=grc..&year=1983&volume=book&letter=.&db_key=PRE&page_ind=34&plate_select=NO&data_type=GIF&type=SCREEN_GIF&classic=YES |editor=Coyne, G.V. |display-editors= et al. |page=[http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?journal=grc..&year=1983&volume=book&letter=.&db_key=PRE&page_ind=66&plate_select=NO&data_type=GIF&type=SCREEN_GIF&classic=YES 50] |publisher=Vatican Observatory |access-date=18 May 2011 |via=SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)}}</ref>
<ref name="Gormley">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Gormley |title=Use of B.C. and A.D. faces changing times |newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=24 April 2005 |url=https://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/Use-of-B-C-and-A-D-faces-changing-times-1643198.php |page=A–13 |access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="RelTolrnc">{{cite web |url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/ceintro.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113090752/http://www.religioustolerance.org/ceintro.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 January 2013 |title=Comments on the use of CE and BCE to identify dates in history |publisher=ReligiousTolerance.com |access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Wilson">{{cite book |title=The Columbia Guide to Standard American English – A.D., B.C., (A.)C.E., B.C.E. |first=Kenneth G. |last=Wilson |date=16 December 1993 |quote=A.D. appears either before or after the number of the year&nbsp;... although conservative use has long preferred before only; B.C. always follows the number of the year.&nbsp;... Common era (C.E.) itself needs a good deal of further justification, in view of its clearly Christian numbering. Most conservatives still prefer A.D. and B.C. Best advice: don't use B.C.E., C.E., or A.C.E. to replace B.C. and A.D. without translating the new terms for the very large number of readers who will not understand them. Note too that if we do end by casting aside the A.D./B.C. convention, almost certainly some will argue that we ought to cast aside as well the conventional numbering system itself, given its Christian basis. |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-06989-2}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|Common_Era#Translations}}
* {{Cite magazine |title= From Our Readers: Ancient Manuscripts—How Are They Dated? |url=https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102009094 |magazine=Awake! |publisher=[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] |date=2009 |quote=Although A.D. (Anno Domini, meaning 'in the year of our Lord') and B.C. (before Christ) are used in lands where professed Christianity predominates, we have chosen to use the terms C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (Before the Common Era).}}
{{external media
||video1={{YouTube|7pPMUuwNTlI|BC vs AD, BCE vs CE; What's the difference?}} //
Archaeology News — 2023, July 15 
}}
{{Calendars}}
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{{Chronology}}

[[Category:1610s introductions]]
[[Category:1615 beginnings]]
[[Category:17th-century neologisms]]
[[Category:Calendar eras]]
[[Category:Chronology]]
[[Category:Gregorian calendar]]
[[Category:Linguistic controversies]]
[[Category:Secularism and religions]]