Question about the time

[Leesboek]

I see that here in the forums for example that the time is written as 17:10 pm. I thought it's either 5:10 am or 5:10 pm. Can you write 17:10 pm too?

[Fazzu]

I have been taught in my class not to use 17:10pm but 5:10pm.But I am not sure about Internet.

[Ouisch]

Some Internet forums (as well as some countries) use the 24-hour clock. However, the majority of written English (novels, textbooks, newspapers, etc.) uses AM/PM time.

[rewboss]

Leesboek has a point. If you use the 24-hour clock, it doesn't make sense to write am or pm -- in fact, it is wrong to do so.

This is an error in the forum software, so we'll probably have to live with it.

[Tdol]

Ahhh you're right- I suppose the programmers were trying to remove all doubt, especially when people are entering form all over the world in different time zones. It's illogical, but it does leave no room for doubt. I'll see if there is another setting that drops the am/pm display.

[Red5]

There was indeed another setting and the issue is now resolved. We now have a correct representation of 24-hour time in the forum.

Many thanks for spotting the error!

[thestudentproofreader]

lol- please- it should be made VERY clear that using anything like 13:00 or 17:00 is only done so as to SUBSTITUTE the need for AM or PM

Aghh!!

(Sorry for the droll tone- it's just I've had this discussion so many times it is infuriating lol)

http://www.studentproofreader.com

[nyggus]

lol- please- it should be made VERY clear that using anything like 13:00 or 17:00 is only done so as to SUBSTITUTE the need for AM or PM
Aghh!!
(Sorry for the droll tone- it's just I've had this discussion so many times it is infuriating lol)
http://www.studentproofreader.com

I think it needs to be underlined here that what you've written in your post, thestudentproofreader, refers to English. In some other languages, in Polish for instance, the use of 13:00 is a classic. Then, using 1 instead of 13 aims to use a shorter word (we don't have AM/PM). Still you're right, since we're talking here about English--it's, however, possible that some people use the 24-hour type because they are accustomed to it.

Best wishes,
Nyggus

[englishstudent]

This discussion about time reminds me about
the confusion about whether it should be
12:00 P.M or 12:00 A.M for noon.

As I understand it, the unambiguous
usage is - 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight.
On the dictionary.com site, the usage note says:
"By definition, 12 A.M. denotes midnight, and
12 P.M. denotes noon, but there is sufficient confusion
over the meanings of A.M. and P.M. when the hour is 12
to make it advisable to use 12 noon and 12 midnight
where clarity is required."

If the meaning of the latin word 'meridiem' is
'noon', I understand how '12 A.M' (ante meridiem)
means '12 before noon' and thus it can mean '12 midnight'.
But I am not able to understand how 12 P.M
(post meridiem) can be defined as noon.
Because it is not really post noon at 12.
Only at 12.01.01 it is post noon or P.M.


A long time ago I heard on the radio
about a man in Philadelphia
getting a ticket for parking his car past the time
indicated on the time on the signboard. Apparently,
the sign had 12:00 P.M on it, and the ticket was
thrown out after he went to court on this point.

[thestudentproofreader]

I think it needs to be underlined here that what you've written in your post, thestudentproofreader, refers to English. In some other languages, in Polish for instance, the use of 13:00 is a classic. Then, using 1 instead of 13 aims to use a shorter word (we don't have AM/PM). Still you're right, since we're talking here about English--it's, however, possible that some people use the 24-hour type because they are accustomed to it.

Best wishes,
Nyggus

Oh yes, if we're talking other usages, besides english, then there is certainly a point to be made here

However, like you've recognised, the nature of this forum (and indeed the thread) stipulates an english set of 'rules'

Also- good to meet you- I hope we engage in many discussions