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Kenta Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
How do you say "midnight"?
Hello. Suppose it's midnight. Which is correct?
1. It's twelve p.m.
2. It's twelve a.m.
3. It's zero a.m. ( In Japan, we use this expression.)
How about "twelve noon [midnight]?
Do you have any other expressions?
Thank you!
1. It's twelve p.m.
2. It's twelve a.m.
3. It's zero a.m. ( In Japan, we use this expression.)
How about "twelve noon [midnight]?
Do you have any other expressions?
Thank you!
Top answer
Why aren't you satisfied with a mere "It's midnight"? Anyway, I guess "It's 12 AM" means the same. 12 PM implies noon as far as I can see.
- Why aren't you satisfied with a mere "It's midnight"?
- Anyway, I guess "It's 12 AM" means the same.
- 12 PM implies noon as far as I can see.
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30 Answers
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Why aren't you satisfied with a mere "It's midnight"? 
Anyway, I guess "It's 12 AM" means the same. 12 PM implies noon as far as I ca
Anyway, I guess "It's 12 AM" means the same. 12 PM implies noon as far as I ca
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KentaHello. Suppose it's midnight. Which is correct?12 a.m. = mi
1. It's twelve p.m.
2. It's twelve a.m.
3. It's zero a.m. ( In Japan, we use this expression.)
How about "twelve noon [midnight]?
Do you have any other expressions?
Thank you!
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You can express and write the time in a variety of ways: 12 am (or twelve or twelve o'clock, twelve in the morning, twelve noon, midday); 12 pm (or twelve or twelve o'clock, twelve at night, midngiht).
(Times-Chambers Essential English Dictionary)
(Times-Chambers Essential English Dictionary)
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Hi guys,
If you search the Forum for 'meridian', you'll find endless discussions about this. eg a six-page thread at Time Question
The bottom line is that, unless there is a clear context, you can never be sure what 12 am or 12 pm means, so it's better to avoid these expressions.
If you search the Forum for 'meridian', you'll find endless discussions about this. eg a six-page thread at Time Question
The bottom line is that, unless there is a clear context, you can never be sure what 12 am or 12 pm means, so it's better to avoid these expressions.
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It sometimes throw me for a loop too! If 11:59 in the evening is PM, logically 60 seconds later, it should be 12 pm, right? That was my thinking for years. Sometimes when discussion about am and pm comes up, I still have to think about it. This may be helpful!
A.M. and P.M.
What is Noon and Midnight?
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Grammar GeekYL, that's quite odd -- 12 a.m. is midnight and 12 p.m. is noon.The dictionary states that 12 a.m. is noon, and 12 p.m. is midnight.
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Hi,
If someone tells you that a movie you very much want to watch is on TV at 12pm, my advice is that you should ask them to clarify their meaning.
If someone tells you that a movie you very much want to watch is on TV at 12pm, my advice is that you should ask them to clarify their meaning.
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Yoong LiatGrammar GeekThe dictionary states that 12 a.m. is noon, and 12 p.m. is midnight.
YL, that's quite odd -- 12 a.m. is midnight and 12 p.m. is noon.
That's proved the point I made before which was textbooks do not always have the correct answers! The books are only as good as
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I had a long discussion with my colleagues on how to display the time on a website when the time is noon or midnight. Our decision was to avoid using 12am or 12pm because they are confusing and technically incorrect. We use "12 noon" and "12 midnight".
"am" is "ante meridiem", meaning "before noon". "pm" is "post meridiem", meaning "after noon". 12:00 is neither before nor after noon.
"am" is "ante meridiem", meaning "before noon". "pm" is "post meridiem", meaning "after noon". 12:00 is neither before nor after noon.
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