[Steve_Seattle]

"Who writes "09"?

I can't tell if you are referring to writing dates in the format 09-11-2001 or "09-11-2001" or "09"11"2001".

The latter WOULD be weird, but the quotes on the second alternative are merely put there in the FBI memo as correct punctuation to set off the terrorist's date format from the rest of the text. They are not to be interpreted as part of the date as written by the terrorist. As for the first format (09-11-2001), I don't think it is unusual at all; it is how I write the date when I write a check and it is my preferred format for date fields when I design computer reports. I think the dash gives a better and clearer separation than the slash.

[88keys]

I agree re: writing dates...being a "regular" person, I would write on my check Sept. 11, '01 or 9-11-'01...as a general query though, isn't it customary for Europeans (or computers?!) to list the day first, as in 11-09-01? (don't know where I got that idea!)