BC/AD and BCE/CE – what is the difference and how do I write it?

I have been asked this several times by students recently. BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini/the year of our Lord), have secular terms – BCE – Before Common/Current Era and CE – Common/Current Era.

Previously, BC and AD were used almost exclusively but nowadays, use of the Common Era terms is more common, given growing secularity and desire for religious neutrality.

Read more here. Antidote is a really good site!