diff --git a/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.cpp b/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.cpp
index 7f8a6d4f03..db8215a9ae 100644
--- a/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.cpp
+++ b/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public:
 
     void today() { m_greg = boost::gregorian::day_clock::local_day(); }
     ymd year_month_day() const;
+    std::string format(const char* format) const;
 private:
     Date m_greg;
 };
@@ -76,6 +77,18 @@ GncDateImpl::year_month_day() const
     return {boost_ymd.year, boost_ymd.month.as_number(), boost_ymd.day};
 }
 
+std::string
+GncDateImpl::format(const char* format) const
+{
+    using Facet = boost::gregorian::date_facet;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    //The stream destructor frees the facet, so it must be heap-allocated.
+    auto output_facet(new Facet(format));
+    ss.imbue(std::locale(std::locale(), output_facet));
+    ss << m_greg;
+    return ss.str();
+}
+
 /** Private implementation of GncDateTime. See the documentation for that class.
  */
 static LDT
@@ -211,6 +224,7 @@ GncDateTimeImpl::format(const char* format) const
 }
 
 /* =================== Presentation-class Implementations ====================*/
+/* GncDate */
 GncDate::GncDate() : m_impl{new GncDateImpl} {}
 GncDate::GncDate(int year, int month, int day) :
     m_impl(new GncDateImpl(year, month, day)) {}
@@ -228,12 +242,20 @@ GncDate::today()
     m_impl->today();
 }
 
+std::string
+GncDate::format(const char* format)
+{
+    return m_impl->format(format);
+}
+
 ymd
 GncDate::year_month_day() const
 {
     return m_impl->year_month_day();
 }
 
+/* GncDateTime */
+
 GncDateTime::GncDateTime() : m_impl(new GncDateTimeImpl) {}
 GncDateTime::GncDateTime(const time64 time) :
     m_impl(new GncDateTimeImpl(time)) {}
diff --git a/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.hpp b/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.hpp
index 04d48b5f34..e24796daae 100644
--- a/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.hpp
+++ b/src/libqof/qof/gnc-datetime.hpp
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ public:/** Construct a GncDate representing the current day.
     @return ymd struct
  */
     ymd year_month_day() const;
+/** Format the GncDate into a std::string
+ *  @param format: A cstr describing the way the date and time are
+ *  presented. Code letters preceded with % stand in for arguments;
+ *  most are the same as described in strftime(3), but there are a few
+ *  differences. Consult the boost::date_time documentation.
+ *  @return a std::string containing a representation of the date
+ *  according to the format.
+ */
+    std::string format(const char* format);
 /** Test that the Date has an implementation. */
     bool isnull (void) { return m_impl == nullptr; }
 
@@ -83,7 +92,7 @@ private:
  * between 1400 and 9999 CE.
  *
  * Be careful when using times: A particular time is represented
- * differently depending on the timezone, which can shif the displayed
+ * differently depending on the timezone, which can shift the displayed
  * date. Accounting is generally not sensitive to the time of day, but
  * is sensitive to the recorded day. Since GncDates are not timezone
  * dependent they should be preferred for accounting entries.
@@ -110,7 +119,7 @@ public:
  * @exception std::invalid_argument if the year is outside the constraints.
  */
     GncDateTime(const struct tm tm);
-/** Construct a GncDateTime 
+/** Construct a GncDateTime
  * @param str: A string representing the date and time in some
  * recognizable format. Note that if a timezone is not specified the
  * default is UTC, not the local one.
@@ -142,11 +151,12 @@ public:
 /** Test if the GncDateTime has a member pointer. Testing only. */
     bool isnull (void) { return m_impl == nullptr; }
 /** Format the GncDateTime into a std::string
-
+ *  @param format: A cstr describing the way the date and time are
+ *  presented. Code letters preceded with % stand in for arguments;
+ *  most are the same as described in strftime(3), but there are a few
+ *  differences. Consult the boost::date_time documentation.
  *  @return a std::string containing a representation of the date
- *  according to the format. Consult the boost::date_time
- *  documentation for format characters; while they mostly compy with
- *  POSIX there are a few differences.
+ *  according to the format.
  */
     std::string format(const char* format) const;