The spelling of the phrase "common era" is quite simple once you understand the context behind it. This term is used as an alternative to the traditional designation of AD, which stands for "anno Domini," or "in the year of our Lord." In IPA phonetics, the spelling of "common era" is /ˈkɒmən ˈɪərə/, with the stress on the first syllable of each word. It is used to refer to the current era or timeline, without any religious connotations, and is becoming more popular in academic and scientific circles.
Common Era (CE), also known as the Christian Era or Current Era, is a designation used to denote the calendar era commonly utilized worldwide today. The term serves as an alternative to the traditional Anno Domini (AD) system, which is Latin for "In the Year of Our Lord." Common Era is a secular concept employed to represent the years after the approximate birth of Jesus Christ.
The Common Era calendar system counts time from a fixed starting point designated as Year 1, traditionally believed to correspond to the year of Jesus Christ's birth. The dating system disregards religious connotations associated with the traditional AD abbreviation and seeks to provide a universally inclusive way to reference historical timelines. As such, Common Era is used interchangeably with BC/AD in order to accommodate non-Christian cultures and individuals.
The term Common Era emphasizes the shared nature of the current calendar system among various cultures and religions worldwide. It recognizes the need for a neutral terminology to facilitate international communication and understanding. By adopting this system, it becomes easier to compare and align historical events without favoring any particular religious or cultural perspective.
In summary, Common Era is a widely used calendar designation that represents the years after the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. It offers a secular and inclusive alternative to the AD system, making it more suitable for intercultural and interfaith interactions.
The term "Common Era" (abbreviated as CE) is a secular alternative to the use of "Anno Domini" (AD) in the Gregorian calendar system. It was introduced in the 17th century and gained broader usage in the 20th century. The etymology of the phrase "Common Era" is directly related to the Latin phrase "Vulgaris Aera", which translates to "common era" or "ordinary era". The word "Vulgaris", in this context, does not carry any negative connotations but simply means "common" or "ordinary". The term "Common Era" aims to provide a non-religious, universal way of referring to years in history, emphasizing the shared human experience rather than any particular religious belief.