Dating systems: BC and AD, or BCE and CE?

[Epictetus]

Thanks for all the replies. I also checked the Oxford Style Manual, which rather neutrally says BCE and CE should be used if the writer wishes "to avoid specifying dates in Christian terms."

Out of all the reference materials I have, it looks like only the Guardian guide makes a firm editorial decision.

Regarding AUC, the OSM mentions that it is very common in German works of the 19th and early 20th centuries. I've noticed that myself, like in Mommsen. When I read him I had to use a little cheat sheet I referred to when necessary, because I was used to thinking in the BC / AD designations.