Re: BC/AD vs BCE/CE

["LaTorra, Michael" <MLaTorra -at- SCGROUPINC -dot- COM>]

Connor wrote:

        "... some publications use the designations B.C.E.
        (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era) instead of
        B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini).
        "... B.C./A.D. is still standard editorial practice [with
exceptions]...
        "Any thoughts on this subject?"

I prefer to maintain the standard convention (B.C. and A.D.) because
B.C.E and C.E. do nothing to add to the clarity or information content
or usability of this way of representing year dates. Perhaps some
scholars find the latter designations more useful because, as you
pointed out elsewhere in your post, it allows them to dispute the actual
birth date of Jesus Christ, which is supposed to be the demarcation
point separating B.C. from A.D., without having to throw out the entire
dating scheme as well. But for common people and common purposes, there
is no reason at all to change usage.

Michael LaTorra
Technical Writer

SCGroup Incorporated
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El Paso, Texas  79912-8412
USA

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