Hatrack River Writers Workshop: referencing millenia

This is topic referencing millenia in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by dspellweaver (Member # 2133) on :

Everybody in the world but me probably already knows this but...

Would you reference the years between 3000 and 3999 as the fourth millennium?

I assume so because the first millenium would be the years 0-999, the second 1000-1999, the third 2000-2999 et al.

However I want to make sure this is fairly common knowledge and that when I reference the year 3000 as the fourth millenium in my story, I won't confuse readers.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

I fail to see a problem here (actually just one: fourth millenium is 3001-4000. Like centuries, millenia all started on year 1; since there was no year zero)

Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :

So, Silver3, you celebrated the new millenium on January 1st 2001?

While technically it may be correct that 2001 was the beginning of the new millenium, I don't think anyone's going to quibble with you if you say 3000 is the first year of your fictional new millenium--mostly because we, as a society, are so entrenched in the idea that 1999 is the end of the old and 2000 is the beginning of the new. Largely because it's easier that way--years in the fourth millenium start with the digit 3, years in the fifth century start with the digit 4, etc.

[This message has been edited by djvdakota (edited October 03, 2004).]