bc

Everyday

1. BC is written after a year to mean that many years before the year 1 in the usual calendar, counted backwards: Julius Caesar died in 44 BC. tree →
2. BC stands for British Columbia, a province on the west coast of Canada. tree →
3. In text messages, «bc» is a short way of writing «because». tree →

In the lessons

In history and maths, BC years count backwards: 500 BC is earlier than 400 BC; to find the years between a BC date and an AD date, add them (and remember there is no year 0). Many books now write BCE (before the Common Era) for the same years. In Canadian geography, BC is the province whose capital is Victoria and biggest city Vancouver. In texts, «bc» is only for informal messages, never schoolwork. Phrases: in 300 BC, BC and AD, BCE.

Examples

• The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC. tree →
• Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BC. tree →
• 300 BC came before 200 BC. tree →
• From 50 BC to AD 50 is 99 years, because there is no year zero. tree →
• Vancouver is the largest city in BC. tree →
• «I can't come bc I have practice,» my friend texted. tree →

Note

Write BC after the year (44 BC) but AD usually before it (AD 79). Maths trap: BC numbers get smaller as time goes forward, like counting down; bigger BC number = longer ago. «BCE» and «CE» mean the same as BC and AD. Write «because» in full in schoolwork.