Dateline vs. Deadline: Decoding the Right Spelling
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 30, 2023
Dateline is incorrect spelling while Deadline is correct, a time or date by which something must be completed or submitted.
Which is correct: Dateline or Deadline
How to spell Deadline?
Dateline is Incorrect
Deadline is Correct
How to remember correct spelling of Deadline?
Associate 'deadline' with 'red line', imagining a red line marking the end time for tasks.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Remember, a deadline is a line you don't want to cross, hence 'dead-line'.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Visualize the word 'dead' in deadline as the end point of a task.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Think of "Deadline" as a line in time, not a line in data.
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Dec 30, 2023
Break it down: 'dead' as in no more time, and 'line' as in a boundary.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Deadline Definitions
A final or definitive limit set for completion of a task.
The boss gave a deadline for the report’s submission.
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Dec 30, 2023
A time limit for submitting articles for publication.
Reporters rushed to meet the newspaper's deadline.
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Dec 30, 2023
A line prisoners cannot cross without risk of being shot. Historical
In Civil War prisons, the deadline was a real boundary.
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Dec 30, 2023
A specific time by which event arrangements must be finalized.
The deadline for the conference registration is Friday.
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Dec 30, 2023
A time limit, as for payment of a debt or completion of an assignment.
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Oct 19, 2023
A boundary line in a prison that prisoners can cross only at the risk of being shot.
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Oct 19, 2023
To govern by setting a time limit
"He was never going to be deadlined by a day, or even a month" (New Yorker).
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Oct 19, 2023
A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed.
I must make this deadline or my boss will kill me!
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Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A guideline marked on a plate for a printing press.
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Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A line that does not move. en
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Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A boundary around a prison, prisoners crossing which would be shot.
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Oct 19, 2023
(military) To render an item non-mission-capable; to ground an aircraft, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
The point in time at which something must be completed
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Oct 19, 2023
The latest time by which something should be completed.
The project's deadline is midnight tonight.
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Dec 30, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "dateline" be used in any context related to deadlines?
No, dateline and deadline are distinct terms and are not interchangeable.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Is "deadline" used differently in different professional contexts?
Yes, while its core meaning remains as a time limit, its application varies in journalism, project management, and historical contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Does "deadline" have any synonyms?
Yes, terms like due date, time limit, and cutoff point are synonymous with deadline.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Are there any common phrases or idioms using "deadline"?
Phrases like "meet a deadline" or "set a deadline" are commonly used.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Why is "dateline" considered incorrect in this context?
Dateline is incorrect when referring to a time limit; it's a journalistic term indicating the date and location of a news story.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
What is the historical significance of "deadline"?
Historically, it referred to a boundary line in prisons, crossing which could result in death.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Is the pronunciation of "deadline" different from "dateline"?
Yes, the emphasis and sound of 'dead' in deadline differ from 'date' in dateline.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
What is the origin of the word "deadline"?
Deadline originated during the American Civil War, referring to a physical boundary in prison camps.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Can "deadline" be used in a non-professional context?
Yes, it's often used informally to refer to any kind of time limit.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
What are common mistakes when using "deadline"?
Common mistakes include confusing it with dateline or misjudging its meaning based on context.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Does "deadline" have a different meaning in journalism?
In journalism, it specifically refers to the latest time for submitting content for publication.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Are there any cultural references to the word "deadline"?
In popular culture, "deadline" often appears in contexts emphasizing urgency and time pressure.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
How can one remember the spelling of "deadline"?
Associating 'dead' with an end point and 'line' with a boundary can help.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Is "dateline" ever a correct term in the context of time limits?
No, dateline is specific to journalism and does not refer to time limits.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.