Buzz
Interested in understanding AM and PM? Morning or evening? Explore the 24-hour and 12-hour clock systems, and discover how to seamlessly switch between them in this article.
Here, Mytour shares insights into what AM and PM mean. Dive into the realms of the 12-hour and 24-hour clock systems, and learn the tricks of effortlessly converting time between these formats. Join us for a fascinating journey!
1. The 12-Hour Clock System
The 12-hour clock divides the day into two 12-hour periods, with the first designated as morning, running from midnight to noon. The second period marks the afternoon, covering 12 hours from noon to midnight.
The 12-hour clock system evolved from the 2nd century BC to the 16th century AD.
2. The 24-Hour Clock
The 24-hour clock, sometimes referred to as military time, indicates time based on the number of hours elapsed since midnight. Starting from midnight, the hours are numbered from 0 to 24, eliminating the need for distinctions like morning and afternoon. For example, at 23:00, 23 hours have passed since the beginning of the current day.
3. Understanding AM and PM: Morning or Evening
The abbreviations AM and PM have their origins in Latin:
- AM = Ante meridiem: Before midday, often abbreviated as AM, am, a.m., or A.M.
- PM = Post meridiem: After midday, commonly abbreviated as PM, pm, p.m., or P.M.
So, AM is understood as the morning or forenoon, while PM is understood as the afternoon or evening. For example, if you see 8:00 AM, it means 8 in the morning. Conversely, 8:00 PM signifies 8 in the evening or precisely 20:00 in the 24-hour system.
4. Convert 12-Hour Format to 24-Hour Format
4.1 Convert Morning or Afternoon Time to 24-Hour Format
From midnight to 12:59 in the morning, subtract 12 hours.
12:49 AM becomes 0:49 (12:49 - 12)
From 1:00 AM to noon, take a break.
11:49 AM remains 11:49
From 12:01 PM to 12:59 PM, take a break.
12:49 PM remains 12:49
From 1:00 PM to midnight, add 12 hours.
1:49 PM becomes 13:49 (1:49 + 12)
4.2 How to convert time on a 24-hour clock to the 12-hour system:
From 0:00 (midnight) to 0:59, add 12 hours and use AM.
0:49 AM = 12:49 AM (0:49 + 12)
From 1:00 AM to 11:59 AM, simply retain the morning hours.
11:49 AM = 11:49 AM
From 12:00 PM to 12:59 PM, simply retain the afternoon hours.
12:49 PM = 12:49 PM
From 1:00 PM to midnight, subtract 12 hours and use the afternoon.
1:49 PM = 1:49 PM (13:49 - 12)
So here, Mytour has shared with you the 24-hour clock, the 12-hour clock, what AM and PM mean. AM, PM signify morning or evening? Hopefully, through this article, you will have a clearer understanding of a.m, p.m hours, and if you encounter am or pm, you can easily identify the time and switch to the 24-hour clock effortlessly. Thank you for your interest and following this article.
