Today vs. tonight

Question

Hello,1.  Until what time can we used the expression 'today'?  eg.  the programs starts at X pm today2.  Or what time does 'tonight' starts?3.  I believe 'today' means 'this day' therefore it also means this 24-hour period.  Can we say then 'the program starts at 8pm today'?  Or it should be 'tonight' instead of 'today'?4.  Should I say 'enjoy the rest of the day' or 'enjoy the rest of the night' when it's already 8pm based on the premise in #3?  I would really appreciate your help, please.

LouiseT · Accepted Answer

I don't believe (correct me if I am wrong anyone) that there is a particular time when day becomes night. If you talk about the day as when it is light then this changes throughout the year.

If it were mid summer at 8pm I would probably say " Enjoy the rest of your evening" in the winter at this time then "Enjoy the rest of the night". I would not say " Enjoy the rest of the day" at 8pm.

For the TV program I would say " The program starts at 8 o'clock this evening" if you say "8pm" then you do not need to specify the time of day. You can say "8pm today" if the day of the program is not clear.

Hope this helps

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for your response.

LouiseTIf it were mid summer at 8pm I would probably say " Enjoy the rest of your evening" in the winter at this time then "Enjoy the rest of the night". I would not say " Enjoy the rest of the day" at 8pm.

Suppose it's in the afternoon of winter and there's light, can I say 'Enjoy the rest of the day'? Or 'day' can only be used if it's still in the morning?

LouiseTYou can say "8pm today" if the day of the program is not clear.

I see this is possible, but I believe "at 8 tonight" is more common. Thank you for that clarification.

LouiseT · Answer

AnonymousSuppose it's in the afternoon of winter and there's light, can I say 'Enjoy the rest of the day'? Or 'day' can only be used if it's still in the morning?

You can use this in the afternoon as well. It is not wrong to say this at any time but I do not think it would be natural to use this after twilight.

CalifJim · Answer

Until you get more familiar with the way English speakers vary these expressions, you may as well just give yourself an arbitrary rule:

The program starts at 6 this morning / at 10 this morning / at 11:59 this morning / at noon.

The program starts at 12:01 this afternoon / at 3 this afternoon / at 5:59 this afternoon.
The program starts at 6 this evening / at 6:30 this evening / at 8:59 this evening.
The program starts at 9 tonight / at 10:45 tonight / at midnight / at 12:59 tonight.

The program starts at 1 in the morning / at 3:35 in the morning / at 5:59 in the morning.

6 - 11:59 this morning
12 noon
12:01 - 5:59 this afternoon
6 - 8:59 this evening
9 - 11:59 tonight
12 midnight
12:01 - 12:59 tonight

1 - 5:59 in the morning

Please don't obsess about this. It's not very important. No one will put you in jail if you use one of these expressions an hour or so off from the listed times.

CJ

LouiseT · Answer

Yes I agree. There are no rules so you can make up your own.

Thanks for expressing this so well CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much, Louise and CJ, for your explanations especially the arbitrary rules.

I didn't realize before that 'this morning' and 'in the morning' could have different meanings. I used to think that 'morning' generally means the AM time, but when used in the said phrases, the meaning changes.

Again, thank you, guys, for having enlightened me.

Today vs. tonight

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