World War II or World War 2?

World War II or World War 2?

Earlier this month, while editing a document for a client, I came across the following phrase:

World War 2

I immediately flagged it for the client, recommending that they change it to “World War II”. Here’s why.

When we need to indicate that a proper noun is part of a series, we use roman numerals to do so. That’s why we have Super Bowl XLIX, Charles Emerson Winchester III, and Queen Elizabeth II. Hence, World War II.

On a related note, you can also write it as Second World War.

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By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.