BibTeX field: month

How to use the month field in BibTeX?

The month field is used to store the month during the work was published or in the case of an unpublished article the month during it was written.

% preferred way is to use three-letter abbreviation macros
month = feb

% other ways
month = 2
month = "2"
month = {2}
month = "February"
month = {February}

Many BibTeX styles have built in macros that allow to use abbreviations like:

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

How the month field is used in BibTeX entry types

BibTeX entryDescriptionmonth field
articleJournal articleoptional
bookBookoptional
bookletPrinted work without a publisheroptional
inbookAny section in a bookoptional
incollectionA titled section of a bookoptional
inproceedingsConference paperoptional
manualManualoptional
mastersthesisMaster's thesisoptional
miscMiscellaneous: if nothing else fitsoptional
phdthesisPhD thesisoptional
techreportTechnical report or white paperoptional
unpublishedA work that has not yet been officially publishedoptional