even date

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Tiratum

#173777 Sat, 24 Dec 05 03:35 AM

I always see "Thank you for your letter of even date", but what is the meaning of "even date"? Could anyone help me? Thank you!

Tiratum

Joined on Wed, Nov 9 2005

New Member (27)

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LanguageLover

#173788 Sat, 24 Dec 05 04:38 AM

I cannot think of anything rather a letter that you receive on an even date. (A number that is even can be divided by two, of course you know that!)

LanguageLover

Joined on Fri, Feb 25 2005

A proud Iranian living in the UAE

Contributing Member (1,393)

The similarities among the languages are more than their differences!

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nona the brit

#173850 Sat, 24 Dec 05 08:28 AM

Could this be an incorrect use of 'even'. Even can mean: Constant, regular, uniform, unchanging. Do you send them a regular letter? Perhaps they meant thanks for corresponding with me so regularly, constantly - one a month like clockwork!

nona the brit

Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004

England

Veteran Member (11,355)

The name says it all.

MrPedantic

#173960 Sat, 24 Dec 05 01:42 PM

I think it means "of the same date", in contracts, etc. So if his letter and your reply are both dated 23rd December, they are "of even date".

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

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...opella forensis / adducit febris...

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Forbes

#174060 Sat, 24 Dec 05 05:11 PM

MrPedantic wrote:

I think it means "of the same date", in contracts, etc. So if his letter and your reply are both dated 23rd December, they are "of even date".

MrP

It is more often used in deeds and contracts than correspondence. In a letter it would be more usual to say "dated today" or "of today's date".

If you have two deeds that are going to be executed on the same day and one refers to the other you can say "by a deed of even date herewith..." It is shorter that "by a deed dated the same day as this deed". Personally I prefer the longer form as it is a little clearer.

Forbes

Joined on Thu, Jun 16 2005

Regular Member (834)

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MrPedantic

#174186 Sun, 25 Dec 05 12:39 AM

I think "of even date" was common enough in business correspondence, in the days of "I beg to remain", "your esteemed favour to hand", etc. Although English business people don't use these phrases any more, unless jocularly, they (and other elaborate forms) do turn up in correspondence from India, Malaysia, etc. from time to time.

MrP

MrPedantic

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Tiratum

#175421 Wed, 28 Dec 05 06:57 AM

I see.

thank you all of you.

Tiratum

Anonymous

#179074 Wed, 04 Jan 06 09:12 PM

I'm a lawyer and we still use the "letter of even date" phrase instead of "dated today" when we want to confuse nonlawyers.

Anonymous

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Anonymous

#194077 Wed, 08 Feb 06 10:06 AM

I agree "even date" is so commonly used in the legal field. I don't use it to confuse layman, rather it is something to tell "I am in the business too".

Anonymous

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