AM and PM are two important abbreviations used to represent the time of the day in English. These abbreviations are commonly used in the United States and other English-speaking countries. In this article, we will discuss the full form of AM and PM in English.
What is AM?
AM stands for Ante Meridiem, which is a Latin term that translates to "before midday." AM is used to represent the time from midnight to noon. For example, 5:00 AM is 5 hours after midnight, and it is still considered to be part of the morning hours.
AM is often used in contexts where it is important to distinguish between the morning hours and the afternoon hours. For example, a radio announcer might say "It's now 6:00 AM, and you're listening to the morning show."
What is PM?
PM stands for Post Meridiem, which is a Latin term that translates to "after midday." PM is used to represent the time from noon to midnight. For example, 5:00 PM is 5 hours after noon, and it is considered to be part of the evening hours.
PM is often used in contexts where it is important to distinguish between the afternoon hours and the evening hours. For example, a television announcer might say "Tune in tonight at 8:00 PM to watch the season finale of your favorite show."
Why are AM and PM used?
AM and PM are used to represent the time of the day in English because it provides a clear and concise way of indicating whether it is before or after midday. This is particularly useful when scheduling events, meetings, or appointments.
For example, if you were to schedule a meeting for 2:00 PM, it is clear that the meeting will take place in the afternoon. On the other hand, if you were to schedule a meeting for 2:00 AM, it is clear that the meeting will take place in the early morning hours.
How to use AM and PM correctly?
When using AM and PM, it is important to follow a few basic rules to ensure that you are using them correctly:
- Use AM to represent the time from midnight to noon.
- Use PM to represent the time from noon to midnight.
- Always include a space between the time and the AM or PM abbreviation (e.g. 5:00 PM, not 5:00PM).
- Use lowercase letters for am and pm, not uppercase letters (e.g. 5:00 pm, not 5:00 PM).
Conclusion
Now that you know the full form of AM and PM in English, you can use them correctly to represent the time of the day. Remember to always include a space between the time and the AM or PM abbreviation, and to use lowercase letters for am and pm.
