Using VBscript commands on a field can allow for interpreting different types of dates input by a user in common formats, into a consistent format that can be customized.
A date format gets forced onto the input when processed with the format_date command. The script command below is looking for input from a field called inputField, and then applying format_date to that input.
format_date(inputField(), "m e, y")
This needs to be added to a field that is set for a Type of Static Text or Field Scripting, and the script must be applied in the Field Scripting > VBScript area of the field settings.
All of these formats will be accepted and cast into a proper date, or the input will be ignored, other input formats may apply, but these are working as tested.
INPUT => RESULT
2/2/2000 => February 2, 2000
February 2, 2000 => February 2, 2000
Feb 2, 2000 => February 2, 2000
April 4 => April 4, 2018 (if year not provided, uses current year)
April 04 => April 4, 2018 (if year not provided, uses current year)
4 1 2018 => April 1, 2018
2018 4 1 => April 1, 2018
1 14 2098 => January 14, 2098
2098 14 1 => January 14, 2098
12 january 2014 > January 12, 2014
23 oct 2009 => October 23, 2009
The resulting date can be formatted according to the options used on the function that is created. That is the part in the example that looks like: "m e, y". There are a number of options that can be used that are listed under the format_date command on this article below.