How should commas be used with dates in my prose?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook. For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook.

In the day-month-year style, do not use commas:

School started on 4 September 2018.

In the month-day-year style, use a comma to set off the day and—when more information follows—the year:

School started on September 4, 2018.

The sale will be held on Saturday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m.

We lived in Hawaii from May 3, 1965, to July 30, 1975.

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