Dateline vs. Deadline: Decoding the Right Spelling
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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.
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Which is correct: Dateline or Deadline
How to spell Deadline?
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Dateline is Incorrect
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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.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Remember, a deadline is a line you don't want to cross, hence 'dead-line'.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Visualize the word 'dead' in deadline as the end point of a task.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Think of "Deadline" as a line in time, not a line in data.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Break it down: 'dead' as in no more time, and 'line' as in a boundary.
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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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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
A time limit for submitting articles for publication.
Reporters rushed to meet the newspaper's deadline.
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Shumaila Saeed
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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Shumaila Saeed
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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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
A time limit, as for payment of a debt or completion of an assignment.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
A boundary line in a prison that prisoners can cross only at the risk of being shot.
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Shumaila Saeed
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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Shumaila Saeed
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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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A guideline marked on a plate for a printing press.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A line that does not move. en
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
(archaic) A boundary around a prison, prisoners crossing which would be shot.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
(military) To render an item non-mission-capable; to ground an aircraft, etc.
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
The point in time at which something must be completed
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Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
The latest time by which something should be completed.
The project's deadline is midnight tonight.
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Shumaila Saeed
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.
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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.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
Does "deadline" have any synonyms?
Yes, terms like due date, time limit, and cutoff point are synonymous with deadline.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 30, 2023
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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.