dated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "dated" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is no longer modern or fashionable. For example, "The couple's disco ball and lava lamp were a bit dated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Macdonald and Kennedy's friendship dated back to their days running the Glasgow university students' union in the early 1980s.

The Guardian

In Javid's letter, dated 12 March, the minister voiced his concern about the risk that the revived censorship proposal would be used "otherwise than intended, not least given the difficulty of defining extremism, and the consequent likelihood of the government being seen to be interfering with freedom of speech without sufficient justification".

The Guardian

A spokesperson from Ukip said that the offences Mote had been found guilty of on Friday dated from after he had been expelled from the party and they welcomed the verdict.

The Guardian

The two of them had a bond with Pink Floyd that dated back to their early days at Cambridge, where Thorgerson had ended up after an early childhood in Potters Bar, and time spent at the famously utopian Summerhill boarding school in Suffolk.

The Guardian - Music

A sense of the anxiety that was driving GCHQ to do this was revealed in an internal memo, dated Tuesday 19 May 2009, which was written jointly by the director in charge of the MTI project and a member of the agency's cyber-defence team.

The Guardian

This has resulted in asylum seekers spending longer in detention, with more than half having spent four to six months inside: The report, dated February 2014, says increased time spent in detention is associated with an increase in "adverse" behaviour, identifying the seven-to-12-month bracket as the worst period.

The Guardian

Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the film, told from the British perspective, is inescapably dated and politically incorrect: Caine's character refers to the enemy as "fuzzies" and the recruits on his own side as "cowardly blacks".

The Guardian

I only realised the strength of his feeling when I dated a German girl.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I write to request that you withdraw the Order of Australia medal from Edward Moses Obeid, Wardd wrote in the letter dated 26 September.

The Guardian

It looks dated now, but in the mid-60s it brilliantly captured the hedonism of the period and aspects of London life.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But some of the legislation, such as the Terrorism Act 2000, which authorised extensive stop-and-search powers, pre-dated the atrocities of 9/11 in the US and 7 July 2005 in London.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the age of documents or events, ensure context is clear to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the document is "dated" from 1995" instead of just "the document is "dated".

Common error

Avoid using "dated" to describe personal opinions, as it implies an objective assessment of relevance, which might not be appropriate. Use alternatives like "old-fashioned" or "out of touch" to convey subjective feelings.

Linguistic Context

The word "dated" primarily functions as an adjective, describing something that is old or no longer fashionable. Ludwig AI highlights its usage in contexts where items, styles, or ideas are considered out of current trends.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Books

5%

Travel

3%

Sport

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "dated" functions primarily as an adjective signifying that something is no longer current or fashionable. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While synonyms like "out of date" or "old-fashioned" can be used interchangeably, "dated" also implies having a specific date assigned. When employing "dated", ensure clarity in context and avoid overuse in subjective opinions to maintain precision and relevance in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

out of date

Emphasizes the fact that something is no longer current or useful.

old-fashioned

Highlights that something belongs to a past era in terms of style or customs.

antiquated

Suggests something is very old and no longer suitable for modern use.

obsolete

Indicates that something is no longer produced or used; completely out of date.

passé

French term emphasizing that something is no longer fashionable or stylish.

behind the times

Highlights a lack of awareness of current trends or developments.

unfashionable

Focuses specifically on the lack of current style.

anachronistic

Indicates something is out of its proper time period.

archaic

Implies something is very old and rarely used anymore.

outmoded

Similar to outdated, but may suggest a more formal context.

FAQs

How can I use "dated" in a sentence?

You can use "dated" to describe something that is no longer current or fashionable. For instance, "That technology is already "dated"", or "The couple's disco ball and lava lamp were a bit dated."

What are some synonyms for "dated"?

Alternatives to "dated" include "out of date", "old-fashioned", or "antiquated", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "dated" or "outdated"?

Both "dated" and "outdated" are correct and often interchangeable. However, "dated" can sometimes refer specifically to having a date assigned, while "outdated" always implies being obsolete.

What is the difference between "dated" and "retro"?

"Dated" implies something is old and possibly irrelevant, whereas "retro" suggests something from the past is being consciously revived or appreciated for its style.