Which Is Correct: Fourth of July, July the Fourth, July 4, July 4th, Or Independence Day?

There is only one official holiday in July, and it is a big one that many people look forward to celebrating. There are five ways to say and write the name of the holiday that acknowledges the birth of the nation.

Official Name of the July Holiday

The official name of the federal holiday in July is Independence Day. It commemorates the birth of the United States. That's why it is celebrated only in the United States. Other countries have their own day to celebrate their freedom, but it is not celebrated on the fourth of July.

In the United States, the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. That is the date the United States received independence from Great Britain.

Different Names for the Holiday

Most people do not call the holiday by its official title. Even though there are different names for the same holiday, either one of them is acceptable. It is a personal preference for what people call the federal holiday. Some people still say and write what they have become accustomed to saying and writing over the years.

There are no special rules concerning how Americans should refer to the holiday. In formal writing, July 4 is more acceptable than July 4th. It is not acceptable to start a sentence with a number. Therefore, 4th of July is not acceptable at the beginning of a sentence. However, when you say it, it is still Fourth of July. Both of those expressions are acceptable in writing.

Google is an indication of how curious people are about the holiday. As of this writing, Fourth of July has 659,000,000 searches, 4th of July has 974,000,000 searches, and July 4th has 862,000,000 results searches. July the 4th has 1,080,000,000 searches. That's the most searches. Independence Day has 522,000,000 searches. It is interesting that the official name of the holiday has the least number of searches. In conversations, it appears that the Fourth of July tops the list.

So, which of the five names do you prefer? Do you say or write July 4th, July the Fourth, Fourth of July, 4th of July, or Independence Day? No matter how people say or write it, there is no question about how the day is celebrated.

Ways to Celebrate the Federal Holiday

There is no shortage of ways for Americans to celebrate the birth of the nation. Some cities celebrate with parades and fireworks. Families go to the beach or have cookouts or picnics with lots of summer foods such as hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob, watermelons, and red punch.

The Date the Holiday Is Celebrated

The day of the holiday will change from year to year, but the date will always remain the same. Independence Day is always celebrated on the date on the calendar no matter which day it falls on.

Independence Day is like some other holidays regardless of the day the date falls on. For instance, Christmas is always celebrated on December 25. Christmas Eve is always on December 24. New Year's Eve is always on December 31, and New Year's Day is always January 1. Valentine's Day is not a legal holiday, but it always falls on February 14 no matter which day of the week it is on.

Some holidays are celebrated on the day and not the date. Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May. Labor Day is always the first Monday in September. Thanksgiving is always on the last Thursday in November regardless of the date. The date of Easter changes every year depending on the phases of the moon, but it is always on a Sunday. Mother's Day is not a federal holiday, but the celebration is always on the second Sunday in May, and Father's Day is always on the third Sunday in June.