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As a substitute for "Anno Domini", the abbreviation C.E., which is sometimes understood as meaning Common Era and sometimes as Christian Era, is seeing increasing use. Correspondingly, as a substitute for "Before Christ", the abbreviation B.C.E. is used, which is understood either as Before the Common Era or Before the Christian Era. Both C.E. and B.C.E. are placed after the date, like B.C. but in contrast to the use of A.D. in formal English (therefore A.D. 711 is 711 C.E.).

This usage is preferred in much academic writing, particularly among historians, because it is perceived to have less ethnocentric bias; in particular, historians writing on non-Christian cultures, regardless of their own religious backgrounds, often feel it is inappropriate to date events with a Christian statement of faith. The near-universality of the A.D. era, however, makes the redesignated C.E. an attractive compromise. Some religious groups within Christianity also prefer C.E. dating; for example, Jehovah's Witnesses find the terms B.C. and A.D. objectionable because they imply that Christ was born in 1 B.C., whereas their theology requires a different date that they believe was prophesied in the Book of Daniel.

The term "Common Era" has been in use since the late 19th century. Indeed, in its article on "Chronology", the 1908 Catholic Encyclopedia uses the sentence: "Foremost among these is that which is now adopted by all civilized peoples and known as the Christian, Vulgar, or Common Era, in the twentieth century of which we are now living."

This terminology is seen by some Christians, and others, as a move by nonbelievers to make Christianity less visible. The argument is sometimes made that English names for the months commemorate Roman deities, while the names for the days of the week commemorate Norse deities; dating years according to yet a third religious tradition should not therefore be an issue of concern. Because of this debate, the choice of whether to use A.D. or C.E. dating may often be construed as a political statement against or in favor of secularism.