I’m often asked about the use of A.D. and B.C. and why National Geographic magazine has not switched to C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (before the Common Era). The simple answer is that so far the use of C.E. and B.C.E. is mainly in the academic arena or by organizations making a statement. The terms are unfamiliar to most of our readers and, therefore, would have to be explained. Nothing can slow down a good read like parenthetical explanations of unfamiliar terms.

But, of course, nothing in editorial style is really simple. Writers and editors need to be aware of changing usage and be sensitive to different perceptions and points of view, while also communicating clearly with that publication's audience. No publication wants to be perceived as outdated or insensitive, but neither does it want to confuse its readers. It's all about clarity and balance. One of the Society's books, National Geographic Concise History of the World, uses the new terminology, clearly explaining in the front of the book what the designations mean and why the book is using them. It's easier to do this once in a book than it is in month after month in a magazine.

The challenge for National Geographic magazine is timing: When to make a change and how far out in front of the crowd do we want to be. That's the tricky part, and we may not always get it right. A number of years ago we decided to spell Neandertal without an "h" because that was the trend in scientific publications (anthropologists were finally catching up to the standardization of German spelling in the early 20th century, in which thal—meaning "valley"—was changed to tal). We still seem to be way ahead of the popular press and even some scientists on this one, and I’m thinking we should rejoin the masses.

From my survey of other general interest magazines and newspapers and from discussions with staff, I'm comfortable, for now, staying with the traditional and familiar A.D. and B.C. However, I've revised the first section of the entry on DATES in the National Geographic Style Manual to acknowledge the alternative system and will continue to monitor its use.

What are your opinions?   

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