Is Noon 12am or 12pm?

[lanalee]

I'm having an friendly argument with a co-worker who often refers to noon as 12am. I say it's 12pm. We looked on the internet and found conflicting answers.

According to this site, it's best to simply say noon or midnight to avoid confusion.

So what do you think? In your world, is Noon 12am or 12pm

 

[vic714]

12 PM is noon.

Victor

 

[gmarine]

People refer to the time from say, 1PM to 5PM as the afternoon dont they? After "NOON".

12 noon is 12 PM. 12AM is midnight. "Mid"dle of the "night"

 

[NTHC]

In my little world 12pm is noon and 12am is midnight.


cindy

 

[BocaBum99]

There is no 12 pm or 12 am. There is only 12 noon and 12 midnight.

 

[ArtsieAng]

Good question? Although, I usually think of 12 noon as PM, and 12 midnight as AM. For the second that the clocks strikes either, I think neither apply.

 

[Eric in McLean]

In related news, the Washington Post reported today (page 2 of front section) that a poll showed 22% of the Americans think the Sun orbits around the earth. And 1 in 10 college grads think the Sun orbitz around the earth.

 

[Spence]

AM means ante meridiem which means before noon
PM means post meridiem which means after noon

But by definition, 12 a.m. denotes midnight, and 12 p.m. denotes noon, but there is sufficient confusion over these uses to make it advisable to use 12 noon and 12 midnight where clarity is required.

 

[Big Matt]

The Earth is flat!

In related news, the Washington Post reported today (page 2 of front section) that a poll showed 22% of the Americans think the Sun orbits around the earth. And 1 in 10 college grads think the Sun orbitz around the earth.

 

[Keitht]

In related news, the Washington Post reported today (page 2 of front section) that a poll showed 22% of the Americans think the Sun orbits around the earth. And 1 in 10 college grads think the Sun orbitz around the earth.

Only 22% and 10% I thought most Americans thought the Universe revolved around them Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Mosca]

Is zero a positive number or a negative number?

 

[geoffb]

Is zero a positive number or a negative number?

Neither, positive and negative numbers are defined in relation to zero.

 

[jfbookers]

12:01

To avoid the above confusion many use 12:01 am or pm. It works.

 

[Lee B]

To avoid the above confusion many use 12:01 am or pm. It works.

That's a great answer and solution.

I recall in grade school being told that noon was 12 pm and midnight was 12 m, for midnight. The teacher explained why this was so, but I don't remember that. Nor do I give that theory special weight, until I remember or relearn what it was.

 

[boyblue]

I'm sure California has a law for this.

 

[nursetanya1973]

military time

A lot of the hospitals I work at use military time to avoid confusion. The only confusion then is whether it is 2400 or 0000 for midnight. I have heard both ways, but more commonly it is said that 2400 does not exist.

Most do not use either, they only refer to 0001 instead.

Anyone which is correct?

 

[Spence]

Civilian Time --- Military Time
Midnight (12:00 AM) 0000 hrs
1:00 AM 0100 hrs
2:00 AM 0200 hrs
3:00 AM 0300 hrs
4:00 AM 0400 hrs
5:00 AM 0500 hrs
6:00 AM 0600 hrs
7:00 AM 0700 hrs
8:00 AM 0800 hrs
9:00 AM 0900 hrs
10:00 AM 1000 hrs
11:00 AM 1100 hrs
12:00 PM 1200 hrs
1:00 PM 1300 hrs
2:00 PM 1400 hrs
3:00 PM 1500 hrs
4:00 PM 1600 hrs
5:00 PM 1700 hrs
6:00 PM 1800 hrs
7:00 PM 1900 hrs
8:00 PM 2000 hrs
9:00 PM 2100 hrs
10:00 PM 2200 hrs
11:00 PM 2300 hrs

 

[Mosca]

Neither, positive and negative numbers are defined in relation to zero.

That's exactly my analogy. "12" on the modulus that is a clock face is the same as "0" on the number line.

 

[lanalee]

That's exactly my analogy. "12" on the modulus that is a clock face is the same as "0" on the number line.

But I'm still not real clear what you're saying? If "12" is the same at "0", and if zero is neither negative nor positive, then is it your conclusion that neither one is correct?

 

[Mosca]

But I'm still not real clear what you're saying? If "12" is the same at "0", and if zero is neither negative nor positive, then is it your conclusion that neither one is correct?

Yes. 12 is either noon or midnight, and never AM or PM.

That doesn't keep people from using it as AM/PM, but you'll have that in a small town/no sheriff.


Tom

 

[geoffb]

It is actually correct to use 00:00 hours and 24:00 hours in context as you refer to the start or end of a given date.

For example, something that runs from 9pm to midnight today would be represented as 21:00-24:00 hours.

Something that begins at midnight and ends at 5am tomorrow would be represented as 00:00 to 05:00 hours.

-G

 

[RonaldCol]

In related news, the Washington Post reported today (page 2 of front section) that a poll showed 22% of the Americans think the Sun orbits around the earth. And 1 in 10 college grads think the Sun orbitz around the earth.

I'm a devout Catholic (not). The pope decreed recently that Gallileo was right. Yes, the earth does now revolve around the sun.

 

[vic714]

Only 22% and 10% I thought most Americans thought the Universe revolved around them Sorry, couldn't resist

Only when we're on our cell phones driving on the wrong side of the road!