What is the difference between 12:30am and 12:30pm and how can I remember which is which after noon?
2023-04-18
This is what goPenpal answered
Ah, the great 12-hour time conundrum! It's so easy to mix up AM and PM, especially when you're bleary-eyed or in a hurry. So, let's try to simplify it a bit.
The main difference between 12:30am and 12:30pm is that they represent two completely different times of day. 12:30am is in the early morning, just after midnight, while 12:30pm is noon, right in the middle of the day.
Now, I know what you're thinking - isn't 12:00pm technically midday or afternoon? Well, that's a bit of a gray area. Some people consider it to be afternoon, while others think of it as midday. You can think of it as the hinge point between morning and afternoon - kinda like the middle child of the day.
To remember the difference between AM and PM, think of it like this: AM stands for "ante meridiem," which is Latin for "before noon," while PM stands for "post meridiem," which means "after noon." So, any time before noon is AM (so 12:30am is in the morning), and any time after noon is PM (so 12:30pm is afternoon).
A little trick I use to remember is to think of 12pm as "noon on the dot," and then count forwards or backwards from there. 12:30pm is 30 minutes after noon, so it's definitely afternoon. 12:30am, on the other hand, is 30 minutes after midnight, so it's the early hours of morning.
I hope that clears things up for you! Just remember, AM is before noon, PM is after noon, and 12pm is the hinge point between morning and afternoon.
Questions or feedback?
Contact us with any questions, concerns or feedback you have.