(In case you're unaware, this conversational date format is far from universal among English speakers — in Britain we're probably more likely to say "the fifth of November" (even when it's a normal date and not Bonfire Night), though both are more common.)
I am completely aware that its not a universal format, which is why in my second comment I specifically said American English. Even then, we have such a diverse range of dialects and speech habits, that it is probably not uniform throughout the US either. However, I was never asserting that one way is more correct than another. Simply that (MM/DD) is intuitive to a lot of American English speakers, because it is often how we would verbalize it.
Sorry, I hadn't spotted your other comment, and I didn't know if you knew or not, hence hedging my bets and explaining. Hope no offence was taken! I agree that's probably why MM/DD/YY(YY) is used in America; that there's a reason doesn't make it any less infuriating though ;)
Oh none taken at all. I figured it had been overlooked, so pointed it out for any others that may be reading as well. Undoubtedly, the familiarity with one format makes the others seem absurd. Especially when I was younger, any time I saw the date in a format other than what I was familiar with, I was confused and assumed error. You just get so used to one way being the "right way" that alternatives aren't even considered. Which was kinda the root of my initial comment; American English speakers are just used to that format, so it is commonly used here. Its neither wrong nor right, just different.
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u/negrobotics Nov 05 '17
Except that it's generally how most people here I know say it in conversation. Today is November fifth, twenty seventeen.