diff --git a/data/templates/default.ms b/data/templates/default.ms
index f4204338a..02bbc626a 100644
--- a/data/templates/default.ms
+++ b/data/templates/default.ms
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ $for(author)$
 $author$
 $endfor$
 $if(date)$
-.ND "$date$"
+.AU
+.sp 0.5
+.ft R
+$date$
 $endif$
 $if(abstract)$
 .AB
diff --git a/test/writer.ms b/test/writer.ms
index 33dec71d3..e7ac44bb9 100644
--- a/test/writer.ms
+++ b/test/writer.ms
@@ -67,7 +67,10 @@ Pandoc Test Suite
 John MacFarlane
 .AU
 Anonymous
-.ND "July 17, 2006"
+.AU
+.sp 0.5
+.ft R
+July 17, 2006
 .\" 1 column (use .2C for two column)
 .1C
 .LP