The standard march abbreviation is Mar., made of an uppercase M, then a and r, then a dot. It turns up wherever space is tight, from wall calendars to sales slips and timelines: "Mar. 14," "Mar. 3 to Mar. 9." In all capital formats, such as date stamps and some military and shipping records, it becomes MAR with no period.
There is one big exception. Many newspapers in the United States never shorten March at all, because it only has five letters. So whether you write Mar. or March depends on the kind of writing you are doing.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
Mar.All caps form
MARPeriod
Yes in running text (Mar.), no in all caps (MAR)Number
03 or 3Used in
Calendars, charts, receipts, forms, file namesNews style
Usually spelled out in fullNot to be confused with
Mr., the title for a man
The march abbreviation in different formats
| Form | Where it fits | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. | Calendars, notes, tables, citations | Mar. 21 |
| MAR | Date stamps, labels, military style dates | 21 MAR |
| Mar | Chart axes and column headers without periods | Jan Feb Mar Apr |
| 03 | Numeric dates on forms | 03/21 |
| M | One letter calendar grids, rarely | J F M A M J |
The three letter form Mar is the same pattern used for most months: the first three letters. See the full set on our month abbreviations page.
When to spell March out
Several style rules keep March whole:
- News style: many American news outlets trim just the lengthy months such as January or December, and do so only before a day number. March, April, May, June and July stay spelled out.
- Month alone: with no date, spell it out in most writing: "Spring break is in March."
- Formal letters and invitations: write the full month: "March 8."
- Beginning of a sentence: never start a sentence with Mar.
Class essays follow whatever style guide the teacher picks. Some academic styles allow Mar. in reference lists but prefer March in the body text.
Writing March dates on forms and labels
Forms often ask for numbers rather than letters. March is month 3, written 03 when a form wants two digits.
At a clinic check in: "Birth date, MM/DD/YYYY." Someone born on March 9 writes 03/09 followed by the year. In the US the month comes first, so 03/09 is March 9, not September 3.
On a food label: "BEST BY 15 MAR." The all caps form with no period is normal on packaging and stamps, and the day often comes first.
Outside the United States, many countries write the day first, so a document from abroad that says 09/03 may mean March 9. If there is any doubt, write the month in letters: Mar. 9.
Is there a March acronym?
March itself is a word, not an acronym, and Mar. is a shortening, not a set of initials. For how those two labels differ, see acronym vs abbreviation.
That said, people searching "march acronym" may have met MARCH in first aid or military medical training. There, the letters are a memory aid for the order of care for a badly injured person, starting with massive bleeding and then airway, breathing, circulation and keeping the person warm. Instructors explain the exact steps, so follow your course materials for details.
The word also has a separate meaning as a verb, to march, and as a noun for a parade or protest walk. Neither of those senses is ever abbreviated.
Quick tips for Mar. and MAR
- Use a period after Mar. in regular text: "due Mar. 30."
- Drop the period when the whole date is in capitals: "30 MAR."
- Capitalize the M every time; month names are proper nouns.
- Do not write Mch. or Mrch.; those are not standard.
- Be consistent: if one date in a table is Mar., the others should be Apr., Jan. and so on.
Neighboring months have their own pages, such as April and June. Shortened forms of many other everyday words are gathered under common abbreviations.
Questions people ask
How do you abbreviate March?
Mar. is the standard form: uppercase M, then ar, then a dot. In all capital date formats it is written MAR with no period.
Does Mar. need a period?
Yes, in regular American writing it does. In charts, all caps stamps or tight column headings, writers commonly skip the dot.
Should I abbreviate March in an essay?
Usually no. In body text, write March in full. Short forms are best kept for tables, notes and reference lists if your style allows it.
What number is March?
March is the third month, written 3 or 03 on numeric dates. In the US format, 03/15 means March 15.
Is MAR an acronym?
When it means the month, MAR is just the first three letters of March in capitals. In some medical training, MARCH is a separate memory acronym for the order of emergency care.