Which to use
“Dates” and “Datums” are a confusable German pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #13,798
- “Dates” frequency rank
- #37,443
- “Datums” frequency rank
- 51241
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Dates | Datums |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Nominativ Plural des Substantivs Date | Genitiv Singular des Substantivs Datum |
Where the eye mixes Dates and Datums
Muted = shared; highlighted = the visual trap. They share 4 letters in sequence.
Look-alike desk: Dates vs Datums
A purely visual mix-up. Dates ([deɪt͡s]) and Datums ([ˈdaːtʊms]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 51241, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
Dates is recorded at frequency rank #13,798, classified as anoun, pronounced [deɪt͡s]. Datums is at rank #37,443, tagged as anoun, pronounced [ˈdaːtʊms].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 51241, this pair ranks #1,143,076 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of Dates vs Datums
Shared letters: adst. Private to "Dates": e. Private to "Datums": mu.
"Dates" · 5 letters · shape CVCVC · "Datums" · 6 letters · shape CVCVCC
Known mistypes of this pair
Frequently Asked Questions
Is swapping "Dates" for "Datums" ever safe?
Which is more common, "Dates" or "Datums"?
What to do next
Visual near-miss handled. Browse the word pages or a neighbour when the next look-alike shows up.
- Full dictionary entry for "Dates" with definition, IPA, and generated misspellings. Word entry
- Full dictionary entry for "Datums" - compare definitions side by side with the headword page. Word entry
- This pair ranks #1,143,076 of 2,006,359 scored German confusable pairs in this corpus vintage. Corpus statistics
- "Dates" and "Datums" also get mixed up with nearby pairs, the highest-scored neighbour is "Datums vs drums". Nearby pair
- Recorded mistypes exist for at least one side of this pair, useful when a spell-checker or OCR lands on the wrong form. See mistypes
Confusion rank #1,143,076 of 2,006,359 scored German pairs, corpus vintage 2026-09-03, not spelling advice.