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Sailsofoblivion Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
How best to write times?
Hello,
I've recently written a short story, and I am unsure as to whether I've written out the times correctly. With the exception of saying "midnight" each of the times is mentioned on the hour and doesn't include minutes for consistency, i.e. "6 pm". Is this correct? Does it matter that I don't use periods between the pm? Or write 6:00?
i.e. "6 pm. 19th of December."
Guessing consistency is key here, and otherwise it's just a matter of personal preference?
Thanks in advance!
I've recently written a short story, and I am unsure as to whether I've written out the times correctly. With the exception of saying "midnight" each of the times is mentioned on the hour and doesn't include minutes for consistency, i.e. "6 pm". Is this correct? Does it matter that I don't use periods between the pm? Or write 6:00?
i.e. "6 pm. 19th of December."
Guessing consistency is key here, and otherwise it's just a matter of personal preference?
Thanks in advance!
Top answer
Yes, consistency is paramount. m. but I can live with 6 pm too.
- Yes, consistency is paramount.
- m.
- but I can live with 6 pm too.
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6 Answers
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Yes, consistency is paramount. I personally prefer 6 p.m. but I can live with 6 pm too.
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"6 pm" and "6 p.m." are both OK, but "6 pm." isn't really right. More likely you want a comma there, e.g. "6 pm, 19 December".
"6:00 p.m." doesn't seem necessary to me in a story. I associate that format mostly with timetables and the like, and often the 24-hour clock would be used too, so it would be "18:00".
"6:00 p.m." doesn't seem necessary to me in a story. I associate that format mostly with timetables and the like, and often the 24-hour clock would be used too, so it would be "18:00".
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Thank you! Is it okay that at some points I write, 8:50 am ? I never realised this as I only do it twice? I've had this piece marked and my teacher said nothing, but obviously I want it to be as good as possible. Should I change each one so that it is 6:00 etc? It is over the course of a day, hence the need for times. HOWEVER, the only time I use minutes is when she looks at her phone, so with t
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sailsofoblivionIs it okay that at some points I write, 8:50 am?That's OK.
sailsofoblivionShould I change each one so that it is 6:00 etc?I don't think that's necessary.
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sailsofoblivionThank you! Is it okay that at some points I write, 8:50 am ?Am I right in assuming that this is not in dialogue? (In normal conversation, at least in my experience, people would usually say "ten to nine", not "8:50".)
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