What time is it?

[xiaoen]

2:18

1. It's eighteen minutes past two. BrE

Hi,
I have three questions:

Is #1 also said by Americans?
Can we also say "after two" instead of "past two" in #1?
Can "2:18" be said in another version except #1?

Thanks.

 

[konungursvia]

Re: 2:18

Yes; yes; yes, "two-eighteen."

 

[Skrej]

Re: 2:18

You really are going to ask about all 60 minutes, aren't you?:bad-word:

 

[xiaoen]

Re: 2:18

You really are going to ask about all 60 minutes, aren't you?:bad-word:

No offense Skrej, but when you talk to me like this, I get afraid of you and other native English speakers to ask my other questions about time. My time questions are not the same but they just look like each other.
Excuse me if I bother you by my time questions but believe me I have to ask these in order to make sure I have understood them better.

When I see that you get angry by my different but similar time questions, I become afraid to ask my other questions.;-)

Thank you.

 

[Tdol]

Re: 2:18

2:18

1. It's eighteen minutes past two. BrE

It's fine, but I would use two-eighteen.

 

[xiaoen]

Re: 2:18

two-eighteen.

Thank you. What happens if I omit the red dash?

I mean "It's two eighteen."

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: 2:18

In speech, you can't hear a dash.

In writing, write 2:18.

 

[Tdol]

Re: 2:18

Thank you. What happens if I omit the red dash?

I mean "It's two eighteen."

Nothing much, to be honest.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: 2:18

In writing, write 2:18.

Some people write that. I write 2.18. (The final dot is a full stop, it's not included in the time.)

 

[GoesStation]

Re: 2:18

Thank you. What happens if I omit the red dash?

I mean "It's two eighteen."

It's a minor error. Careful readers will notice it, but it won't affect anyone's comprehension.

 

[Barb_D]

Re: 2:18

I can't imagine writing "two-eighteen." I would write 2:18 every single time.

 

[GoesStation]

Re: 2:18

I can't imagine writing "two-eighteen." I would write 2:18 every single time.

The one exception would be the same raised earlier in the thread: in written dialog. Given the variety of ways times may appear in spoken English, writers should write them out in quoted texts.

 

[xiaoen]

Re: 2:18

[h=1]Hyphens, En Dashes, Em Dashes[/h]
Q. Do you recommend using a hyphen when spelling out the time of day?

A. Our rule is to reserve hyphens for the naturally hyphenated cardinal number:


eight forty-five; five fifteen; three thirty


But add a hyphen when the time of day precedes and modifies a noun, unless part of the expression is already hyphenated:


three-thirty train; eight forty-five appointment

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/HyphensEnDashesEmDashes/faq0011.html

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: 2:18

What's your point, xiaoen? The above guide is for those who have to write the time in words for some reason.

You never need to write the time in words. Just use numbers.