date of birth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "date of birth" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to provide their date of birth on an official form, or when discussing someone's date of birth in a professional context. For example: "Please provide your date of birth on the form."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My date of birth?

The Guardian

His exact date of birth is uncertain.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Never display your full date of birth.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I gave my name, date of birth.

The Guardian

They asked him his date of birth.

The New York Times

(His date of birth is disputed).

The New York Times - Arts

"Date of birth?" And then, rapidly, "Residence?

The New Yorker

what is your date of birth?

The Guardian

"What's your date of birth?" she asked.

The New York Times

(See Researcher's Note: Maxwell's date of birth).

Encyclopedia Britannica

An inscription indicates the teacher's date of birth and death.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When requesting someone's "date of birth" on a form, clearly label the fields for month, day, and year to avoid confusion, especially in international contexts where date formats vary.

Common error

Avoid writing the "date of birth" using a format that could be misinterpreted (e.g., 01/02/2020 could be January 2nd or February 1st). Always spell out the month or use a universally recognized numeric format (YYYY-MM-DD).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "date of birth" primarily functions as a noun phrase identifying a specific point in time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It often acts as a subject or object in sentences related to personal information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

22%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "date of birth" is a fundamental piece of personal information used across various contexts, ranging from casual conversation to formal documentation. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequency. The phrase functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving to specify a particular day in history. When writing or requesting a "date of birth", it's crucial to use clear and unambiguous formats to prevent errors and ensure accurate record-keeping. Related terms include "birthdate" and "DOB". While commonly encountered, caution should be exercised when sharing this information online due to security concerns.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

DOB

An abbreviation that stands for "date of birth".

birthdate

This is a single-word synonym for "date of birth".

day of birth

Focuses specifically on the day within the month when someone was born.

year of birth

Specifies only the year someone was born, omitting the month and day.

when were you born

This is a direct question asking for someone's birth date.

natal day

A more formal or poetic way to refer to someone's birthday.

birth anniversary

Refers to the annual recurrence of someone's birth date.

date of delivery

This phrase is typically used in a medical context referring to child birth.

age at birth

Refers to the age of a mother during childbirth, rather than the subject's birth.

day of origination

An unusual way to denote the date of birth, less common.

FAQs

How do I correctly format the "date of birth" in a document?

The "date of birth" should be formatted consistently throughout a document. A common format is Month Day, Year (e.g., July 15, 1985) or Year-Month-Day (1985-07-15), depending on the context and regional preferences. Always be consistent.

What's the difference between "birthdate" and "date of birth"?

"Birthdate" is a single-word synonym for "date of birth". They are interchangeable and have the exact same meaning.

Why is providing my "date of birth" important?

Providing your "date of birth" is crucial for identification purposes, verification, and to ensure accurate record-keeping in various contexts like healthcare, legal documents, and official registrations.

Is it safe to share my "date of birth" online?

Sharing your "date of birth" online carries risks, as it can be used for identity theft or other malicious activities. Be cautious about where you share this information and ensure the website or platform is secure and trustworthy.