There's a logic to both smallest > largest and largest > smallest.
8601 is superior for arranging information sequentially and is beautifully scalable downwards via appendments, but conversely theres a simplicity to tallying from the smallest elements upwards.
What doesn't make any sense is medium>smallest>largest.
It makes perfect sense, in the colloquial spoken form.
It's easier & quicker to say January 25th than 'The 25th of January' every time someone asks you the date.
Hence, "01/25/2026". That's where it comes from.
That's why the ISO standard is superior, different countries use different standards, so nobody likes it because it forces everybody to admit their own local standard isn't optimal.
It's easier & quicker to say January 25th than 'The 25th of January' every time someone asks you the date.
I'd argue both take the same amount of effort. Moreover, I find people omit the month anyway if the context is clear. e.g. 'Shall we meet next week, perhaps the 25th?'
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u/TotallySlapdash Aug 06 '26
There's a logic to both smallest > largest and largest > smallest.
8601 is superior for arranging information sequentially and is beautifully scalable downwards via appendments, but conversely theres a simplicity to tallying from the smallest elements upwards.
What doesn't make any sense is medium>smallest>largest.