Telling the time

It happens, but it is not common. 'Twenty-five past one' and 'twenty-five to two'.

Nina_NiaIs it common to say 'thirty-five to two' instead of twenty-five to two?

"Thirty-five to two" is not the same as "twenty-five to two." If you mean "Is it common to say 'thirty-five to two' instead of 'one twenty-five,'?" I would say it's not common at all.

If it's 1:25, you would never say this as "thirty-five to two." If the time is between 1:30 and 2:20, you can specify it in the construction "...to two" but only at five minute intervals and only for certain times:

1:35 = twenty-five to two

1:40 = twenty to two

1:50 = ten to two

1:55 = five to two

1:45 is one forty-five, never fifteen to two.

If the time is between 1:30 and 2:20, you can specify it in the construction "...to two"-- It's hard to imagine that happening, Summit.

This is what I meant; 1:35.

So:

1:35 = one thirty-five or twenty-five to/of/before two.

But why is it a mistake to say 1:31, "twenty-nine to two"?

It's not at all a mistake, if you are being quite accurate. Most of us would just say "It's (about) one-thirty" though. (The anonymous poster is just being overly prescriptive.)

Thank you, Mister Micawber.