AD

The abbreviation for Anno Domini, ad, typically is written in small capitals and should be placed before the numerals, as in ad 375 (not 375 ad). However, when the date is spelled out, it is normal to write, for example, the third century ad (not ad the third century). The abbreviation bc (before Christ) appears after the date: Plato was born in 427 bc —that is to say, in the fifth century bc. In recent years, some writers have begun using the abbreviations ce (of the Common Era) in place of ad, and bce (before the Common Era) in place of bc, in consideration of a more secular and international readership.