the proper way to write time in an essay

Writing the Time: How to Write Time Correctly (Examples)

If you want to learn how to write time correctly, you've come to the right place. This article will teach you everything you know to use time correctly in your writing.

The time can be written in letters or numerals and follows various conventions. To learn more, read on.

This guide is part of our free online Grammar Book.

How to Write the Time in Numerals

Before you can learn how to write the time in your texts correctly, you need to know about the different ways of measuring time. There are two commonly used ones: the 12- hour and 24-hour formats. Let's review each one by one.

12-Hour System

The 12-hour system uses the numbers 1 to 12 to measure time and the abbreviations' am' and 'pm' to specify whether the time mentioned is in the morning or the afternoon. The hours from 1 to 12 before noon count as the morning, and the hours between 1 and 12 after noon count as... well, afternoon.

There are a few different ways to write the time using the 12-hour system. What they all have in common is that you begin by stating the number. You can then follow the number with the abbreviation 'am' or 'pm;' the phrase 'in the morning,' 'in the afternoon,' or 'at night,' or the word' o'clock.'

Here are some examples:

Let's have lunch at 11am. I need you in the office by 2 in the afternoon. In January it gets dark at 3pm.

In informal writing, it's okay to use just the number to mention the time ("Let's meet at 5.") as long as it's safe to assume the person will know whether you mean morning, afternoon, evening, or night .

• It's worth noting there are several different ways to write the abbreviations' am' and 'pm.' Some like to capitalize them; others keep them lowercase.
• Some use periods between the letters while others don't, and some leave a space after the number while others don't.

Here are some representations of the different ways this can look using the example time of 8 in the morning:

Some spellcheckers will even have you use a period after the first letter but not the second one. All these variations are correct, and which one you should use depends on the style guide you follow.

The main thing is to stay consistent.

24-Hour system

The 24- hour system uses—you guessed it—24 numbers to measure the time. The numbers 1 to 12 refer to the morning hours, while numbers 13 to 24 refer to the afternoon and evening hours. Due to the system's intricacy, you don't need to use phrases such as 'in the morning,' nor must you use 'am' or 'pm.'

They're expected to land at 13:45.  The screening begins at 20:00 but there'll be some trailers before that. I heard the meeting started at 8:00.

Notice I've used a colon between the hours and the minutes in the examples above. You can also use a period .

Top Tip! The military system also uses the 24-hour system but without the colon/period, followed by the word "hours." For example: Take off at 300 hours.

How to Write the Time in Letters

There are times you might want to write the time in letters. Like when? Well, like with all things, it's primarily up to you. Just make sure to remain consistent, whatever you choose to do.

Nonetheless, here are some guidelines you might decide to follow:

• Write the time in letters only when it won't burden the page. For instance, '7:25' is better than 'twenty-five past seven.' 'Eight' and '8:00' are equivalent.
• Never write 24-hour format time in letters.
• Use the words' noon' and 'midnight' over the numerals' 12 pm,' '12am,' '12:00,' or '24:00.' It's just more straightforward.
• With o'clock, you can use either numerals or words.
• When the time you're writing isn't on the hour, remember to use words such as 'past,' 'after,' 'til,' and 'to.'

Here are some examples to illustrate some of these guidelines:

My son's so lazy; he never gets up before noon. What do you think of meeting at five o'clock for cocktails? It's already half past one!

Concluding Thoughts

That concludes this article on how to write time correctly. I hope you found it helpful.

Let's summarize what we've learned:

• The time can be written in a 12-hour or 24-hour format.
• When writing the time in numerals, use words like 'am,' 'pm,' and the phrases 'in the morning,' 'in the afternoon,' or 'at night.' 
• 'O'clock' can be used with numerals or letters.
• You can choose to write the time in numerals or letters; just stay consistent.

If you found this article helpful, check out our Grammar Book . It's an online database of articles that break down complex grammar topics into easy-to-understand guides. You'll love it!

Learn More:

• How to Write Height Correctly - Writing Feet and Inches
• How to Write a List Correctly: Colons, Commas, and Semicolons
• Apostrophes: When to Use Apostrophes in Writing (Examples)
• Ellipses: When to Use Ellipses in Writing (Examples)
• Italics and Underlining: When to Use Italics and Underlining in Writing (Examples)
• ‘Restaurateur’ or ‘Restauranteur’: How to Spell It Correctly 
• ‘Goodmorning’ or ‘Good Morning’: How to Spell ‘Good Morning’ Correctly
• ‘Holliday’ or ‘Holiday’: How to Spell ‘Holiday’ Correctly
• ‘Colum’ or ‘Column’: How to Spell ‘Column’ Correctly
• ‘Absence’ or ‘Absense’: How to Spell ‘Absence’ Correctly
• ‘Eachother’ or ‘Each Other’: How to Spell ‘Each Other’ Correctly
• ‘Ninty’ or ‘Ninety’: How to Spell the Number ‘90’ Correctly
• ‘Nieve’ or ‘Naive’: How to Spell It Correctly
• ‘Wheelbarrel’ or ‘Wheelbarrow’: How to Spell It Correctly
• ‘Aswell’ or ‘As Well’: How to Spell it Correctly

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• Frequently Asked

How to Write Time – A.M., P.M., a.m., p.m.

Table of Contents

Let’s discuss the proper way to write time, whether standard, military time or the 24-hour clock. To start, let’s discuss standard 12-hour clock that uses a.m. and p.m. Two commonly seen formats are  4pm  and  4:00pm.  Which is correct?  The answer is: neither!

Both renderings are incorrect. You need to insert periods and a space before the abbreviation , like this:

4 p.m. or 4:00 p.m.

In email, many people seem to be dropping both the periods and the space, but don’t follow the crowd. The prominent style guides do not support that choice. Here is a sampling of recommendations:

The Associated Press Stylebook : 4 p.m.

Microsoft Manual of Style : 4 P.M. (However, Microsoft prefers 24-hour time notations, in which 4 P.M. is 16:00.)

The Chicago Manual of Style  4 p.m. (recommended) Also 4 PM or 4 P.M. (with PM in small capitals)

Garner’s Modern English Usage : 4 p.m. or 4 PM (with PM in small capitals)

The Gregg Reference Manual : 4 p.m. or 4 P.M. (with PM in small capitals)

Whatever style you choose, be consistent. The author’s preference is to always use lowercase letters: 4 p.m.

Omit zeros when the time is on the hour (unless you want to emphasize the time precisely), but include them in a list of varying times like this one:

• 7:00 a.m. Registration
• 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
• 8:00 a.m. Announcements
• 8:15 a.m. Speaker

To make sure you are never doubtful about how to write time, date or any other formatting question, we recommend investing in a style manual.

What do a.m. and p.m. stand for?

While we are on the topic, what do these abbreviations stand for? 

What is Military Time? How Does it Work?

Now let’s discuss how to write military time. Military time is a variation of the 24-hour clock and is a way to talk about time using 24 hours instead of 12 hours. When using the 24-hour clock time, the day begins at 0 hours and ends in 24 hours. 

24-hour clock is widely used across the globe, except in a few countries (notably the United States), which include:

• the Philippines

In the United States, and the countries listed above, we use a 12-hour clock, which splits into two blocks of time: 

• First block: midnight (12:00 a.m.) to noon (12:00 p.m.)
• Second block: noon (12:00 p.m.) to midnight (12:00 a.m.)

24-hour clock time is displayed in four digits, just like a 12-hour digital clock. The first two digits represent the hour, while the last two digits represent the minutes. 

00:00 is pronounced “zero-hundred” and represents midnight, while 1200 is pronounced “twelve-hundred” and represents noon. 

Anything between 00:01 and 11:59 is “a.m.” 

Anything between 12:01 and 23:59 is “p.m.” 

• For example, 0200 (pronounced” zero, two-hundred”) converts into 2 a.m., while 1600 (pronounced “sixteen-hundred”) converts into 4 p.m.

Military time vs. 24-hour clock

There is a slight difference between military time and the 24-hour clock: Military time does not use a separator between the hour (the first two digits) and the minutes (the last two digits).

• Military: 2200
• 24-hour clock: 22:00

Military time pronounces the leading zeros (e.g., 0300 is pronounced “zero three hundred.”)

In military time, the word “thousands” is not used. 1000 can not be pronounced “one thousand.” Instead, it is pronounced one of the following ways:

• “Ten hundred”
• “Ten zero zero”
• “One zero zero”

Who uses the 24-hour clock format?

In the United States, the 24-hour clock is used in various specialist areas, such as:

• Emergency services
• Meteorology

Military time to regular time chart

Military Time- Standard Time

• 0100 – 1:00 AM
• 0200 – 2:00 AM
• 0300 – 3:00 AM
• 0400 – 4:00 AM
• 0500 – 5:00 AM
• 0600 – 6:00 AM
• 0700 – 7:00 AM
• 0800 – 8:00 AM
• 0900 – 9:00 AM
• 1000 – 10:00 AM
• 1100 – 11:00 AM
• 1200 – 12:00 PM || NOON
• 1300 – 1:00 PM
• 1400 – 2:00 PM
• 1500 – 3:00 PM
• 1600 – 4:00 PM
• 1700 – 5:00 PM
• 1800 – 6:00 PM
• 1900 – 7:00 PM
• 2000 – 8:00 PM
• 2100 – 9:00 PM
• 2200 – 10:00 PM
• 2300 – 11:00 PM
• 2400 or 0000 – 12:00 AM || MIDNIGHT

Further reading: Commas in Dates: Writing a Date Correctly , It’s About Time: Clock Time

Great, never thought about it before. Thank you!

I prefer use the 24 hr clock for schedulling, it´s a good option and it´s easier avoid misunderstadings for the people whom just pass a eye in the schedule.

Why dou you think Lynn?

Kind Regards Conrado

I think the 24-hour clock is an excellent idea. I find, though, that many people in the United States prefer a.m. and p.m., particularly if their business does not run 24 hours a day.

My style manual is the American Medical Association’s Manual of Style, which avoids using punctuation in abbreviations (up to and including MD, eg, and ie). It’s one of the hardest things for people to get used to when they start writing at my company. The other hard thing for people to remember is not spelling out numbers unless they start a sentence — even numbers under 10! You can see a brief overview of AMA style here: http://www.docstyles.com/archive/amastat.pdf

Lisa, thanks so much for sharing the information and a resource. It is helpful to know about the differences.

I can understand how new employees struggle with the punctuation and number rules. I am glad you have a style sheet to support the new writers–and the rules.

What about a period of time? If a function runs from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Or is it 5 – 7 p.m.?

Actually, in a business context, it is best to ALWAYS use zeros (4:00). Though this rule can “bend” for native speakers, if you are working with internationals, it’s better to have a consistent rule that is applied at all times.

Also, when using the 24-hour clock (a norm for those outside North America), you should use a leading zero to avoid confusion (04:00 rather than 4:00).

Finally, it’s important to avoid being draconian when writing emails. A new register has actually been created for emails: neutral. So there is formal for letters and legal/offical matters, informal for person correspondence and neutral for business email correspondence.

What about if the 4 P.M. is at the end of the sentence? Do you need to put another period?

Sue, one mention of “p.m.” is sufficient when your meaning is obvious.

John, thank you for mentioning international audiences and their needs.

Dyhlon, you need only one period at the end of the sentence. Two periods would be incorrect.

I also write AM and PM without the periods or the spaces. I always thought that writing A.M. or a.m. or P.M. or p.m. was not the correct way of writing that. I guess I am an old stick in the mud, and since I hate change, or newer ways of doing things, I am going to stick with writing AM and PM. It might be wrong, or grammatically incorrect, but it is what I am used to.

Christine, you are not an old stick-in-the-mud. You are on the cutting edge! Only some style manuals have begun to leave out the periods in question. My “Handbook of Business English,” first published in 1914, includes them.

You didn’t know how modern you are.

Is it proper to write: At 4p.m. this afternoon we will be meeting. . . Is it improper to add the word ‘afternoon’ if you have stated that the time is 4 p.m.?

Hi, Ben. It is redundant to write “4 p.m. in the afternoon.” However, “4 p.m. this afternoon” does clarify which afternoon (for example, not tomorrow afternoon).

A better choice is “4 p.m. today.”

Any answer to: “What about a period of time? If a function runs from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Or is it 5 – 7 p.m.?”

Hi, Mister Nice Guy. I belatedly answered Sue’s question on May 1, 2010:

One mention of “p.m.” is sufficient when your meaning is obvious.

What is the correct way to write 12 midnight or 12 noon

Is the 12 noon, 12:00p.m. or 12:00 a.m.?

Sally, many reference books recommmend simply “midnight” or “noon.” However, if you are entering that time with a list of other times, use “12 midnight” or “12 noon.” Using the number alone with a.m. or p.m. can be confusing in some contexts, so avoid that approach.

I’ve been searching online for the proper way to list an event day, date and time and came across this blog post. Perhaps you can help? Is the following the correct way:

XYZ panel takes place on Tuesday, September 13, at 11:00 a.m.

Thanks in advance for any clarification!

Hi, Mircalla. Your sentence looks fine. You would also be correct to write “11 a.m.” (without the zeros), especially if you have no other times to list.

Did you notice the time stamps here – capital letters, no punctuation. Now what?

Hi, John. Interesting question! It appears that TypePad, the host for this blog, follows the style of “The Chicago Manual of Style” and “Garner’s Modern American Usage” (see above), more or less.

Dear Lynn, How would I write a time when asking a question?

Example: Are you available at 4p.m.?

Would I have the periods between the “p” and the “m” and then put the question mark?

Your example is almost correct. You need a space between the 4 and the p, like this:

Are you available at 4 p.m.?

How would time zone abbreviations fit into this equation?

Hi, Todd. Search for my post “It’s About Time: Clock Time” in the search box at upper right.

May I say 12:30 noon

Hi, Nina. No, “12:30 noon” is never correct. Noon can only be 12 o’clock–not 12:30.

How do you handle time zones? i.e. 4:00 p.m. CT

Hi, Steve. I prefer to spell out time zones so readers will recognize them. Read more here: http://businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2006/05/its_about_time_.html

I question the requirement of spaces before the am/pm, for modern practicality uses. Not everyone knows how to use non-breaking spaces, and if that isn’t used, then, particularly on websites and in Email where one cannot guarantee the same fonts, browser width (especially relevnt for fluid layouts, which are coming back into style due to smartphones), etc., the possibility exists of word-wrap causing the time to appear at the end of a line, and the am/pm at the beginning of the next line, like so:

“The fun starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until midnight!”

This cannot happen if you use, for instance, “7pm”.

Of course, the best solution is to just learn to use non-breaking spaces as needed.

Joel, you make an excellent point. I will be interested to see if the writing style guides catch up with your idea.

Thanks for taking the time to share your view.

a.m. and p.m. creates doubt in some contries. i suggest it will be better to use 24 hours clock time.so no doubt is there isn`t it?

Hello, Arvind. I agree that companies who write to people around the globe should consider using the 24-hour clock.

Thanks for commenting.

If you are writing the time range 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., do you have to include the a.m., or is it okay to write 11:00-1:00 p.m.?

Hello, Patty. It is not acceptable to use p.m. without a.m., as your example does. It would be too confusing for readers.

I can’t find much support for my way of thinking, but using lowercase letters and periods just looks “old school” to me. I’ve worked as a tech writer for more than 30 years (much of it in IT), and it just looks cleaner to omit the periods.

“The upgrade is scheduled for 7:00 am tomorrow.”

“The upgrade is scheduled for 7:00 pm tomorrow.”

I agree that when used in a sentence, the morning designation without periods COULD be read as the word “am,” and yet I don’t worry about this since the context is clear.

That’s my opinion, and I’m stickin’ to it! 🙂

Hi, Kathy. You are correct that reference manuals don’t agree with you, not even “Microsoft Manual of Style,” which was published this year.

I felt the same way about the word “gray.” I wanted to spell it “grey,” the British way, because it looked right to me. But living and working in the US, I decided to give up my preference and use “gray.”

Good luck with your choice.

You would think finding this information would be relatively simple, straight-forward and easy, given the amount of technology at our fingertips. However, I’ve been searching for nearly 15 minutes on this, which is really too much time, and I’m still frustrated. I have the St. Martin’s Guide to Library and Research Documenting, which lists AMA, APA, CBE, and Note-and-Bibliography styles for just about everything, but it also lists abbreviations for time, acronyms, geographical names, and a few other things that are shared amongst all styles. The proper format for time is lower case with periods. It also explains that a.m. is ante meridiem, “before noon” and p.m. is post meridiem, “after noon”. This makes sense as to why the periods are necessary, though I don’t know how consistent it is across all Latin translations like that. For example, “for example” (<--haha!) we use "e.g.", but for "and others" we use "et al." and not "et. al." Anyway, I'm going to go with lower case and periods even though it's a pain. And as for gray/grey- I realize that after I read that, I actually search it every time I write it because I'm never sure. I'm not even sure if I search grey or gray, but since both ways are correct, whichever one I search comes up so I use it and assume it's right. That is probably the reason I never know which is right because they are both right! (I have no idea if that last part made sense or not.) 🙂

Hello, AC. Life is full of complexity, isn’t it?

I am happy to tell you that the “et” in “et al.” has no period because it is not an abbreviation. The phrase when spelled out is “et alia.”

Regarding “grey” and “gray,” “gray” is preferred in the United States. I am not certain which is preferred in other countries.

Thank you for stopping by.

What is the correct order/style when you write a sentence which contains following parts: time, day, month, year, day of the week? What is the correct order of those parts? Thanks!

Zky, here is an example to answer your question:

I will see you on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, at 11 a.m.

I will see you at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

You do not need to include the year if it is obvious and you are not writing a legal document. In both examples above, you would simply delete the year.

Thank you for this great post! My only question is how do I use proper punctuation with the examples shown. If a sentence ends with the time, do I need to insert a period after the “p.m.”?

For example: I have to meet Cathy at 2 p.m.

I assume in this sentence, I would not insert a period after the time because that would look silly (2 p.m..).

However, if I write this same sentence as a question, I would obviously insert a question mark.

Do I have to meet Cathy at 2 p.m.?

Could you please clarify the rule on punctuation when the time is written at the end of a sentence?

Hi, Jared. Both of your examples are correct. The period is not doubled in a declarative sentence, but the period does appear before a question mark.

What is correct? 4:00 p.m. 4:00 PM 4:00p.m. 4:00PM

Marfaret, according to the reference guides I cited above, only 4:00 p.m. is correct.

The first comment to this post, posted on June 06, 2009 at 04:47 AM, and the most recent, December 30, 2012 at 09:46 AM.

Ironically, for over three years the time format for this blog has been: Month Day, Year at 00:00 AM or Month Day, Year at 00:00 PM.

It seems the only .s being used these days are at the end of sentences. My child, at times, avoids them there as well. 🙂 or 🙁

Hi, Randy. Woe is us! (Woe is WE?)

When I get frustrated over a lack of punctuation, I try to remember that I can control only my own behavior, not that of others.

Good luck with your child!

How do you explain 24 hour time?

Hi, Tom. Using a 24-hour clock makes A.M. and P.M. irrelevant.

When you said “explain 24-hour time,” did you have a specific question?

When I proofread printed material at my office, I always make the times conform to the format you have suggested (4:00 a.m.). Recent college graduates I work with accuse me of being from another planet for my preference. Since part of our operation is an AM radio station, I get some mileage out of the need to make 11:20 a.m. look different from 1120 AM. Now, don’t get me started on using periods, instead of hyphens and parenthesis, in phone numbers (like 800.555.1234).

Hi, David. Your reason for using small letters and periods makes perfect sense. I would hope the recent college graduates would understand it.

I take it you hate the periods in phone numbers. I myself prefer hyphens, but that’s another blog post, specifically “How to Format Phone Numbers.” You can find it here: http://businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/2007/01/how_to_format_p.html

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Best practices for including time references in your essay writing.

Time plays a crucial role in writing, adding depth and context to your ideas. However, properly conveying time in an essay requires attention to detail and consistency. Whether you are discussing historical events, comparing timelines, or simply narrating a sequence of events, the way you handle time can significantly impact the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore best practices for writing time in an essay, including how to format dates, express time intervals, and maintain chronological order. By mastering these techniques, you can enhance the precision and coherence of your writing, ensuring that your readers follow your argument with ease and understanding.

Using Consistent Time Format

When writing time in an essay, it is crucial to maintain consistent time format throughout your work. This consistency helps the reader to follow the timeline of events and understand the progression of time in your writing.

One of the key aspects of using consistent time format is to decide on the format you will use for representing time. You can choose between the 12-hour clock and the 24-hour clock, but make sure to stick to your choice throughout the entire essay.

Additionally, it is important to be consistent in how you punctuate and separate the elements of time. For example, if you choose to include the time of day, make sure to use the appropriate punctuation and separations, such as “7:30 AM” or “14:45.”

By using a consistent time format, you can enhance the readability and coherence of your essay, making it easier for the reader to follow the progression of events and time in your writing.

Avoiding Abbreviations in Time References

When writing about time in an essay, it’s important to avoid using abbreviations for time references. Abbreviations like “a.m.” and “p.m.” can sometimes be confusing to readers, especially those who are not familiar with these terms.

Instead of using abbreviations, it is better to write out the time references in full. For example, instead of writing “3 p.m.,” you can write “three o’clock in the afternoon.” This not only makes your writing clearer but also helps to avoid any confusion for your readers.

Additionally, when writing about specific times, it is best to use the 24-hour clock format to avoid any confusion. For example, instead of writing “6:30 p.m.,” you can write “18:30.”

Differentiating Between Time Zones

When writing about time in an essay, it is crucial to differentiate between different time zones to avoid confusion. Using the appropriate time zone is essential for clear communication and accuracy. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

1. Specify the Time Zone: Always specify the time zone when mentioning a particular time to provide clarity for your readers. For example, if you mention an event happening at 3:00 PM, specify whether it is in Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Pacific Standard Time (PST), or any other time zone.

2. Convert Time Zones: If you need to convert a time from one time zone to another, make sure to do so accurately. Use reliable sources or online converters to ensure the correct conversion. Double-check your calculations to avoid errors.

3. Be Consistent: When mentioning time zones throughout your essay, be consistent in your usage. Stick to one format and style to maintain coherence and avoid confusion for your readers.

4. Consider Your Audience: Take into account the location of your audience when mentioning time zones. If you have an international audience, consider using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as a reference point to provide a universal frame of reference.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively differentiate between time zones in your essay and ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Integrating Time Markers Naturally

When incorporating time markers in your essay, it is essential to do so seamlessly and naturally. This means that you should avoid simply listing dates or times without any context or relevance to your discussion. Instead, strive to integrate time markers in a way that adds depth and clarity to your writing.

One effective way to integrate time markers naturally is to use them to provide context or establish a timeline for your argument. For example, you might use time markers to show the progression of events or to highlight the significance of a particular moment in history.

Additionally, consider using transitional phrases to smoothly introduce time markers into your writing. Phrases like “In the past,” “Throughout history,” or “In recent years,” can help connect your ideas and make the passage of time feel organic and fluid.

Overall, the key to integrating time markers naturally is to use them strategically and thoughtfully to enhance the coherence and flow of your essay. By carefully weaving time markers into your writing, you can provide readers with a clear sense of the temporal context of your argument and strengthen the overall impact of your work.

Clarifying AM and PM Notations

When writing time in an essay, it is important to clarify whether the time is in the morning (AM) or the afternoon/evening (PM). This distinction is crucial for readers to accurately interpret the time reference.

Here are some best practices for using AM and PM notations:

• Use “AM” to indicate times from midnight to noon.
• Use “PM” to indicate times from noon to midnight.
• Always include a space between the time and the AM or PM notation (e.g., 9:00 AM).
• When indicating noon, use “12:00 PM” to avoid confusion with midnight.
• Avoid using “12:00 AM” to represent midnight; instead, use “12:00 PM”.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure clarity and precision when writing time references in your essays.

Providing Context for Relative Time Expressions

When writing about time in an essay, it is important to provide context for relative time expressions. This helps the reader understand the timeline of events and creates a clear and coherent narrative. One way to provide context is to use transition words and phrases that indicate the order of events, such as “before,” “after,” “during,” and “while.”

Another way to provide context is to use specific dates, years, or time frames to anchor the relative time expressions. For example, instead of saying “recently” or “a long time ago,” specify the time period to give the reader a more concrete understanding of when the events occurred.

By providing context for relative time expressions, you can enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing, making it easier for readers to follow the timeline of events and understand the progression of your ideas.

Checking for Time Accuracy in Quotes

When including quotes in your essay that mention specific times or dates, it is important to ensure that the information is accurate. Misquoting or misrepresenting the time frame can discredit your writing and undermine the credibility of your argument.

Before finalizing a quote that includes time-related details, it is crucial to double-check the accuracy of the information. This can be done by cross-referencing the quote with reliable sources, such as the original text or a reputable publication.

Additionally, it is recommended to verify the context in which the time is mentioned and ensure that it aligns with the overall narrative of your essay. Incorrectly attributing a time frame to a quote can distort the meaning and lead to misinterpretations.

By diligently checking for time accuracy in quotes, you can maintain the integrity of your writing and effectively support your arguments with credible evidence.

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Writing the Time: How to Write Time Correctly (Examples)

Marcus Froland

March 28, 2024

Writing time correctly is a skill we use every day, yet it’s easy to make mistakes. From emails to meeting invites, the way we write time can either clarify or confuse. It’s not just about choosing between AM and PM. The placement of zeros, the use of colons, and even the decision to write numbers out in words play a big role.

Getting it right matters more than you might think. In professional settings, the accuracy in writing time reflects on your attention to detail and communication skills. Whether you’re jotting down an appointment or setting up a calendar invite, knowing how to do it correctly ensures everyone’s on the same page—literally. Let’s break down the basics and clear up common misconceptions.

Writing the time correctly is important for clear communication. When you write time, use numbers and be specific about the part of the day. For example, 8:00 AM for morning times and 3:00 PM for afternoon or evening times. If you’re mentioning a time on the hour, it’s correct to write it as 4:00 , not just 4. For minutes after the hour, write them as they are: 2:30 PM . Remember, in formal writing, avoid using phrases like ‘o’clock’ or abbreviations like ‘a.m.’ Instead, use AM and PM , capitalized and with periods. This way, your writing stays professional and easy to understand.

Understanding the Basics of AM and PM

When it comes to understanding AM and PM in the context of time, it is important to recognize the Latin origins and their meanings. The abbreviation AM stands for “ante meridiem,” which translates to “before noon,” encompassing the time from midnight to noon. On the other hand, PM , short for “post meridiem,” means “after noon” and refers to the timeframe from noon until midnight. These terms are particularly useful when working with a 12-hour clock , as they help differentiate between morning and afternoon times, providing clarity to the reader.

Conversely, these abbreviations are not required when operating with a 24-hour clock, also known as the military time or “‘clocking.”

Let’s take a closer look at these terms:

When writing time in a 12-hour format , it is crucial to always include the appropriate AM or PM notation. Omitting these may lead to confusion and misunderstandings. However, as previously mentioned, this is not required for the 24-hour format .

It is also important to note the expression of noon and midnight in a 12-hour format:

• Noon is indicated by 12:00 PM.
• Midnight is displayed as 12:00 AM.

Practice makes perfect. Familiarizing yourself with the 12-hour clock , its associated terms, and conventions will ensure you effectively convey the specific time in your writing, avoiding miscommunications or errors while maintaining clarity.

Understanding AM and PM is essential for accurate time writing when using a 12-hour clock . Appreciating the significance of antemeridiem and postmeridiem conventions will enable you to convey time consistently, professionally, and clearly in your written communications. Familiarity with these terms, as well as their Latin origins, will enable you to make more informed decisions about which time format suits your needs best, be it the 12-hour or 24-hour system.

The Importance of Correct Time Format in Writing

Writing the correct time format is crucial for various reasons. This not only improves communication clarity but also establishes consistency in documents and promotes professionalism in formal writing. In this section, we will discuss the significance of accurate time writing in communication, standardization, and professionalism.

Clarity in Communication

One of the primary reasons for using a proper time format is to ensure clarity in writing time and communicating time effectively . Accurate representation of time eliminates room for misunderstandings, making it essential for scheduling and planning events. A clear time format aids in preventing conflicts and delays, ultimately leading to smooth operations and reduced errors.

Standardization Across Documents

Adhering to a standardized time format plays a vital role in maintaining consistency in time writing across various documents and official communication. This practice not only promotes ease of understanding but also elevates the professional presentation of the materials. A uniform time format, such as the formal time format , ensures that readers can quickly and accurately interpret the time-related information presented.

Fact: Utilizing a standardized time format can improve professionalism, consistency, and clarity across various forms of written communication.

Professionalism in Formal Writing

Using the proper time format exemplifies professionalism in writing time and reflects the overall quality and formality of the materials. In official documents or written communication, employing an accurate and consistent time format is crucial for presenting and sharing information professionally.

• Ensure correct use of ‘a.m.’ and ‘p.m.’ notation combined with numerical representation of hours and minutes.
• Standardize the time format within a document for ease of understanding.
• Avoid redundancy and inconsistencies.

Writing the correct time format is essential for ensuring clarity, consistency, and professionalism. By adhering to these principles, you can avoid misunderstandings, create highly readable documents, and improve the overall quality of your written communication.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Time

Mastering the art of writing time correctly is crucial for effective communication and professionalism. By eliminating common mistakes, you can express time accurately and in compliance with industry standards. This section will help you understand the importance of avoiding redundancy and ensuring correct periods usage and time format spacing .

Redundancy in Expressing Time

One frequent error when writing time is the inclusion of redundant phrases that clutter your text and hinder communication. Examples of these unnecessary elements include:

• Adding ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’ when it’s already implied
• Using phrases like ’12 noon’ or ’12 midnight’
• Combining ‘o’clock’ with ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’

To express time clearly and concisely, remove these redundancies from your writing and focus solely on the essential information.

Incorrect Use of Periods and Spacing

Another common mistake is the improper usage of periods and spacing when dealing with the time format. To maintain clarity and consistency in your writing, adhere to the following guidelines:

• Always use periods with ‘a.m.’ and ‘p.m.’
• Follow your chosen style guide for correct spacing between the time and ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’

Consistency in your time writing will help prevent confusion and make your communications more effective.

“Timely communication is essential; ensure you’re not losing valuable minutes by making common time writing mistakes.”

Avoiding redundancy in writing time and using correct periods and spacing are essential for optimal time representation. By keeping these tips in mind, you can ensure that your time writing is accurate, clear, and consistent throughout your communications.

How Style Guides Influence Time Formatting

Different time formatting style guides can dictate unique preferences for writing time, from capitalization to punctuation and spacing. These include options like lowercase, small caps, or capital letters, using periods or omitting them, and whether a space is required between the time and ‘AM’/’PM.’

Common guidelines include the AMA , APA , Chicago , MHRA , and MLA style recommendations, each with their formatting standards for time writing.

When choosing a style guide, consider the preferences of your organization, industry, or project, and maintain consistency in your time formatting practices. This ensures readability, coherence, and professional perception across all published documents.

Remember, clarity and consistency are paramount when it comes to time formatting.

When style guide recommendations differ, choose the one that best fits your communication needs or the one most commonly employed in your specific context. The key is to maintain a clear and consistent format throughout your document.

Examples of Writing Time from Morning to Midnight

Time writing can seem daunting, but specific guidelines and examples can help you master the art. Let’s take a look at various examples, from using numbers for specific times to distinguishing between noon and midnight, and formatting time ranges and sequences.

Using Numbers for Specific Times

When detailing specific times, it is important to utilize numerals followed by ‘a.m.’ or ‘p.m.’ appropriate to the time of day, preserving clarity without redundancy. Here are some examples:

• 6:00 a.m. for 6 o’clock in the morning
• 3:30 p.m. for 3:30 in the afternoon
• 11:45 p.m. for 11:45 at night

Distinguishing Between Noon and Midnight

For clarity, use ‘noon’ and ‘midnight’ to distinctly convey 12 p.m. and 12 a.m. respectively, avoiding any potential ambiguity. Take a look at these examples:

Formatting Time Ranges and Sequences

Clearly indicate time ranges using ‘to’ and avoid dashes. Use ‘a.m.’ and ‘p.m.’ judiciously, only after the last time in a sequence when all times belong to the same period of the day. Check these examples:

The conference will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6, 7:30, and 9 p.m.

Remember to maintain consistency, clarity, and professionalism when writing time, and use these examples to guide you in the right direction. Time writing will become more natural and effortless as you practice and adhere to these guidelines.

Best Practices for Writing Time in Different Contexts

It’s essential to understand and apply the best practices for writing time to ensure both clarity and professionalism in various contexts. By keeping a few simple tips in mind, you can effectively communicate and eliminate any potential confusion regarding time.

When listing multiple time entries, maintain consistency by representing times such as ‘noon’ as ’12:00 pm,’ even though it’s acceptable to use ‘noon’ in isolation. Similarly, it’s acceptable to omit zeros for on-the-hour times when not listed in a range (e.g., ‘1 pm’ instead of ‘1:00 pm’). This approach promotes uniformity and ensures a polished presentation.

Moreover, recognizing different contexts helps in choosing the appropriate time format. For instance, while the 12-hour clock is predominantly used in the United States, many other countries use the 24-hour clock. Always consider your target audience and adhere to a clear, consistent, and standard time writing format across various contexts, which enhances readability and preserves professionalism.

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English Made Simple: Two-Minute Lessons for Busy Learners

Copyright © 2024 • TwoMinEnglish.com

The Editor’s Manual

Free learning resource on English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style.

How to Write Time of Day

1. To express exact time, use numerals with a.m. and p.m.

• The train leaves at 2:30 p.m.

2. The abbreviations a.m. and p.m. usually contain internal periods.

• Class is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

3. When the exact time is not important, words may be used. Whole hours are often followed by the term o’clock .

• Let’s meet at two o’clock .
• The game starts at two thirty .
• I’ll be done by half past two .

4. In the 24-hour system (common in military, transit, and hospital settings), use numerals to express the time in hours and minutes, followed by the word “hours.” When this word is omitted, a colon is generally used to separate hours from minutes.

• The train leaves at 1430 hours .
• The train leaves at 14:30 .

5. Don’t use expressions of time like in the morning and at night with a.m. and p.m. or with the 24-hour clock.

• The train leaves at 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon .
• The train leaves at 14:30 in the afternoon .
• The train leaves at 2:30 in the afternoon .

6. Don’t use the number 12 before the words noon and midnight .

• We slipped out the back door at 12 midnight .

Time of day

Time can be written using either the 12-hour or 24-hour system. The abbreviation a.m. or p.m. , the word hours , or the term o’clock is generally used after the number denoting the time. In informal communication, just the number is often sufficient to express time.

• The train leaves at 12:17 a.m.
• The meeting is at 0800 hours .
• The phone rings every day at nine o’clock .
• Farley finally woke up at 11 o’clock .
• He got to work at three in the afternoon .

How time of day is written is a matter of style rather than grammar. Choose a style appropriate to your field, and follow it consistently throughout the document.

Various style manuals suggest different ways to write the time. Discussed in this article are the major styles, along with examples.

Numerals vs. words for time

Use numerals with a.m. and p.m. to emphasize exact time on the clock face. Also use numerals to specify time using the 24-hour system.

• Tumkin wakes up at 6 a.m. every day.
• The bus will arrive at 3:10 p.m.
• Debriefing is at 1700 hours .

When the exact time is not important, time is generally expressed in words instead of numerals. This is common in creative and informal writing.

• Lunch will be served at two o’clock . also 2 o’clock
• Is it almost ten ?
• Poco works from nine to five .
• It was ten twenty-five , and the bell hadn’t rung yet.

To express time in quarter, half, or whole hours, without the abbreviation a.m. or p.m. , use words instead of numerals.

• The meeting starts at eleven thirty .
• The store will open at half past eleven .
• We should be there by a quarter to four ( or a quarter of four ).

Style manuals differ in their guidelines on whether to use numerals or words for numbers. For example, while the AP Stylebook suggests using words for single-digit numbers and numerals for 10 and above, the Chicago Manual of Style recommends using words for two-digit numbers as well, and numerals from 100 onward. Pick a style, and follow it consistently.

A.m. and p.m.

Use a.m. and p.m. with numerals to refer to exact time. Note that the abbreviations a.m. (from the Latin ante meridiem , or “before midday”) and p.m. ( post meridiem or “after midday”) are most often written as such: in lower case with periods between the letters.

• Class starts at 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday.
• He worked steadily from 2 to 4 p.m.
• The train departs from Bratislava at 10:08 a.m. and arrives at Budapest at 4:19 p.m.

When capitalized , small capital letters (or small caps) are generally used, although this style is less common than lowercase letters.

• You can sing between 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM today.

Maintain consistency in showing both hours and minutes , and using numerals or words.

• Poor: Class is from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Better: Class is from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Poor: The show starts at 7:00 p.m. and ends at eleven in the night . Better: The show starts at seven and ends at eleven in the night . Better: The show starts at 7 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m.

In British English , the abbreviations for the two halves of the day are sometimes written without periods (or full stops). A period also sometimes replaces the colon between hours and minutes: The train arrives at Paddington Station at 3.30 pm every day.

When a sentence ends in an abbreviation , don’t add another period. However, in questions, use a question mark as usual. If the abbreviation is within parentheses after which the sentence should end, add another period.

• We can deliver the couch to you by 4 p.m.
• Can you please deliver the couch by 4 p.m.?
• We can deliver the couch this afternoon (by 4 p.m. ).

Don’t use expressions of time like “in the morning,” “in the afternoon,” and “at night” with a.m. and p.m.

• Incorrect: Poco arrived at 2 p.m. in the afternoon . Using p.m. already indicates that we’re talking about a time in the afternoon. Correct: Poco arrived at 2 p.m.
• Incorrect: The meeting will start at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning . Correct: The meeting will start at 9 a.m. tomorrow .

Noon and midnight: a.m. or p.m. ?

Prefer to use the words noon and midnight instead of 12 p.m. or 12 a.m.

• Incorrect: The day starts at 12 a.m. Correct: The day starts at midnight .
• Incorrect: Please send the report by 12 p.m. Correct: Please send the report by noon .

Don’t use the numeral 12 with the words noon and midnight . Writing the numeral is unnecessary and considered poor style. (It cannot be anything but 12 at noon and midnight.)

• The day starts at 12 midnight . The word “midnight” implies that it is 12 on the clock. The numeral “12” is therefore redundant. Although such usage is common in speech, avoid it in writing.
• Please send your report by 12 noon .

O’clock

The term o’clock , which means “of the clock,” may be used when the exact time is unimportant. Such usage is common and often preferred in everyday speech, creative writing, and informal communication. There is no space between the apostrophe and the word “clock.”

• Oh no, is it three o’clock already?
• The bell rang at two o’clock .
• It’s nine o’clock and still light out.

Either numerals or words may be used with o’clock . Style guides differ in their recommendations. The Chicago Manual of Style , followed by academic and book editors, recommends spelling out the number with o’clock. The AP Stylebook , used in American media and journalism, suggests using numerals.

• Chicago: It was three o’clock in the afternoon when the clocks stopped.
• AP: It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon when the clocks stopped.

When both hours and minutes are expressed, the term o’clock is omitted.

• Incorrect: It’s four twenty o’clock . Correct: It’s four twenty .

To informally express the hour and the minute both, simply use numbers and omit o’clock . Or you can use numerals with a.m. or p.m. (These abbreviations may be omitted if it is obvious which half of the day you’re referring to.)

• Please be there by four twenty-five .
• Please be there by 4:25 p.m.
• Please be there by 4:25 .

Quarter, half, whole hours

In speech and informal writing, time is often expressed in quarter, half, and whole hours.

• It’s a quarter to four ( or a quarter of four ). The article a is optional.
• It was half past nine when the train finally arrived.
• The museum is open from nine to six on weekdays.

With whole hours, the term o’clock may or may not be used. Also, since a.m. and p.m. are not used, time expressions like “in the morning” or “at night” are appropriate.

• The Durandians landed in Farley’s backyard at nine o’clock on a Monday morning.
• The Durandians landed in Farley’s backyard at nine in the morning last Monday.

12-hour vs. 24-hour system

Many countries express time using the 24-hour system instead of the 12-hour system. The 24-hour system is also used when confusion between a.m. and p.m. could result in dangerous or costly mistakes—for example, in military settings, hospitals, research labs, airports, and train and bus stations.

• The siren rang at 0413 hours . That is, at 4:13 a.m.
• Departure is at 16:45 . Clearer than “4:45,” which could mean either morning or evening.
• The patient was in surgery from 11:00 to 14:30 .

24-hour clock

In general, to write time in the 24-hour system, omit the colon between hours and minutes, and follow the numerals for time with the word “hours.”

• The invasion began at 0823 hours . Read aloud as “oh-eight-twenty-three hours” or “zero-eight-twenty-three” (military).
• The train departs from Bratislava at 1008 hours and arrives at Budapest at 1619 hours . Read aloud as “ten-oh-eight” and “sixteen-nineteen.”

A colon is used when the word “hours” is omitted.

• The invasion began at 08:23 .
• The train leaves Bratislava at 10:08 and reaches Budapest at 16:19 .

Time expressions ( noon , midnight , morning , afternoon , evening , night , etc.) are unnecessary in the 24-hour system.

• The train leaves Berlin at 0617 hours in the morning . The phrase “in the morning” is redundant, since it is already clear which part of day is being referred to.
• It reaches Vienna at 14:45 in the afternoon .

Midnight: 00:00 or 24:00 ?

Both 00:00 and 24:00 refer to midnight. Use 0000 hours or 00:00 to refer to the start of a day. Use 2400 hours or 24:00 to indicate the end of a given day.

• The operation will commence at 0000 hours on January 16, 2033 . the start of January 16
• Your commanding officer will conduct a briefing from 22:30 to 24:00 , after which the operation will commence. a briefing at the end of the day

Space after numerals for time

Regardless of whether you use a.m. / p.m. , o’clock , or hours , always use a space after the numerals used to denote the time.

• Rita goes for a run at 6:15 a.m. every day.
• Maya woke up with a start at 5 o’clock in the morning.
• The final shuttle for Mars leaves at 0330 hours .

Specify time zones only when necessary. Periods are not used with abbreviations for time zones.

• The call begins at 10:30 a.m. EST .
• I’ll send you the report by 5 p.m. IST ( 7:30 p.m. SGT ).
• The Durandians landed on Earth at 8:17 a.m. UTC on October 23, 2073.

When spelling a time zone out, you may either capitalize or lowercase the words. The Chicago Manual of Style suggests using lowercase letters; the AP Stylebook suggests capitalization. Always capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives (names of places or regions).

• All the time frames specified are in Pacific standard time .
• The train arrives at 14:00 ( central European time ).
• The time shown on our website is eastern daylight time .
• We follow Pacific Standard Time .
• Is that 14:00 Central European Time ?
• Is that Eastern Daylight Time ?

The correct term is daylight saving time , not daylight savings time .

Time periods and duration

You may use either words or numerals to speak of a duration or a time period. In general, use words for numbers until nine and numerals from 10 onward.

• This movie is four hours long.
• We are going on a 12-day vacation.
• Could you wait five minutes , please?

In Chicago style, use words for two-digit numbers as well. Hyphenate two-digit numbers.

• Our rent is paid for thirty-one days .
• This project will take at least twenty-four hours to complete.

To speak of duration, use for . To speak of a point in time, use since .

• Duration: We have been working on this for / since three days.
• Point in time: We have been working on this for / since 9 a.m.

Time ranges

Use from – to or between – and to show a range.

• Anita worked steadily from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Your order will arrive between 2 and 4 p.m. today.
• Rehearsal is from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Ranges , including those signifying time, may also be written using an en dash .

• The meeting is scheduled for 2:00–3:30 p.m.
• Rehearsal is 8:00–9:30 a.m. tomorrow.
• The journey lasts 3–4 hours .

With the word from , use to , not an en dash. If you do use an en dash, omit the word from .

• Incorrect: We are open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays.
• Correct: We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Units of time

With abbreviated units of measurement , always use numerals. In scientific and technical writing, use the SI symbols for units of time , which are h , min , and s (for hour , minute , and second ). Periods are never used with SI units.

• Duration of the experiment: 3 h
• Lap time: 443 s
• Time taken: 4 min 43 s

In nonscientific and nontechnical writing, units of time are often abbreviated to hr. , min. , and sec. A period usually follows the unit. Use numerals instead of words with abbreviated units.

• Time taken: 25 min.
• Project duration: 9 hr. ( or 9 hrs. )

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Use periods between the lowercase letters of the abbreviations a.m. and p.m. when writing for a U.S. audience.

Use numerals with a.m. and p.m. in formal writing.

Both are correct: you may use either numerals or words with o’clock .

In the 24-hour system, use a colon to separate hours from minutes if the word hours is omitted. If the word hours follows the numerals for time, the colon is omitted.

With the words noon and midnight , using numbers for time is redundant and therefore considered poor style. (It’s always 12 at noon or midnight.)

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• Writing Tips

7 Top Tips on Writing the Time

7-minute read

• 25th July 2019

As anyone who has turned up for a midday meeting at midnight will tell you, clarity is vital when writing the time of day. But there are many ways to write the time, and the best approach isn’t always obvious. So to help out, we’ve prepared this guide to putting the time down on paper.

1. Words or Numerals?

You can write the time of day using either words or numerals. If you are using numerals, you would usually include both hours and minutes, although you can omit the minutes in less formal writing .

For instance, all the following would be acceptable:

She gets up at six in the morning every day.

She gets up at 6:00 in the morning every day.

She gets up at 6 o’clock in the morning every day.

As a rule, though, you would only write out the time as words when:

• It is part of a full sentence, particularly in descriptive or literary writing.
• Using a 12-hour clock (never with a 24-hour clock ).
• You are referring to an approximate or round time (e.g. saying ‘ten thirty’ is fine, but it would be unusual to write out ‘twenty-four minutes past eight’).

In most other cases, numerals are the clearer option for writing the time, especially in scientific and technical writing, where precision is vital.

2. AM and PM

The abbreviations AM and PM can be used when writing the time as numerals. Each applies to a different time of day:

• AM is short for ante meridiem , meaning ‘before noon’.
• PM is short for post meridiem , meaning ‘after noon’.

As such, we use AM and PM to indicate the time of day when we are using a 12-hour clock. We can see how this works more clearly if we write out various times of day in both 12-hour and 24-hour formats:

You can see here that we need AM and PM with the twelve-hour clock for clarity. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between, e.g., midday and midnight. Likewise, though, you do not need to include AM or PM with a 24-hour time because it is already clear.

There are also several ways to write AM and PM, including:

• ALL CAPS, small caps , or lower case (e.g. 12 AM, 12 AM or 12 am)
• With or without full stops between the letters (e.g. 8 PM or 8 P.M.)
• With or without a space after the number (e.g. 1 AM or 1AM)

Consistency is key here, so make sure to apply one style throughout your document. You may also want to check your style guide if you have one, as some organisations will have their own rules for how to write AM and PM.

3. When to Use O’clock

You’ll have noticed we use ‘o’clock’ in one of the examples above. This term means ‘of the clock’, so we can use it to show that a number refers to a time.

However, you should only use ‘o’clock’ with exact hours:

It is precisely 5 o’clock . ✔

I’m leaving at seven o’clock . ✔

It arrived at 7:34 o’clock . ✘

The gig starts at half seven o’clock . ✘

We’ll save a discussion of when wine o’clock is for another blog post.

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4. Past and To

When writing the time as words, use ‘past’ and ‘to’ for intervals between hours. You can combine these terms with either numbers or the words ‘half’ and ‘quarter’ depending on the time in question:

• Use past for any interval up to and including half an hour past the hour.
• Use to for any interval after the half hour up to the hour.
• Use half past to indicate 30 minutes past the hour.
• Use quarter past and quarter to for 15-minutes either side of the hour.

For example, we would use ‘past’ and ‘to’ accordingly in the following times:

7:05 → Five past seven

7:15 → Quarter past seven

7:30 → Half past seven

7:45 → Quarter to eight

7:55 → Five to eight

In less formal writing, you can even omit the ‘past’ with ‘half past’. So, for example, we could refer to the time 7:30 as ‘half seven’.

5. Punctuating the Time

When writing the time as numerals, you can use either a colon or a full stop between the hour and the minutes. In some cases, such as in the military , you can even write out a 24-hour time without any punctuation.

For instance, the following are all acceptable ways of punctuating a time:

We need to leave by 6 : 45 pm at the latest. ✔

We need to leave by 6 . 45 pm at the latest. ✔

We need to leave by 1845 at the latest. ✔

The colon is the most common option here, but it is a matter of preference. Unless you’re in the military, in which case we suggest sticking to protocol.

6. Time Zones

In Australia, we have three main time zones for different parts of the country:

• Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) [UTC+8:00]
• Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) [UTC+8:45]
• Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) [UTC+10:00]

We also have regional time zones for a few places, plus daylight saving time in some places during the warmer months of the year. And people in other countries use different time zones entirely! Basically, we’re saying that geography can make time complicated.

This is why we sometimes include a time zone when writing the time. The initials UTC above, for instance, stand for Coordinated Universal Time . We use this ‘standard’ time zone to compare times in different places. So, ‘UTC+8:00’ means that AWST is 8 hours ahead of UTC. And since we know that AWST is 8 hours ahead of UTC and AEST is 10 hours ahead of UTC, we can work out that AWST is 2 hours behind AEST.

In other words, by including a time zone when we write a time, we can help people in other places ‘translate’ it into their own time zone.

This is especially important if you are writing for an international audience, since not everyone will be in the same time zone. You therefore need to include a set of time zone initials so your reader can calculate the equivalent time wherever they are. For example, if we were making an announcement for an international audience, we might say:

The live broadcast will begin at 9:00 pm UTC .

Someone in Bolivia could then look up the difference between UTC and BOT (Bolivia Time) and know the broadcast begins at 5:00 pm where they are.

7. Avoiding Redundancy when Writing the Time

In writing, redundancy means using a word unnecessarily. We mentioned above, for example, that you do not need to use AM or PM with 24-hour times because we already know whether a time is the morning or afternoon/evening when using a 24-hour clock.

Other cases of temporal redundancy you may want to avoid include:

• Using ‘in the morning’, ‘in the afternoon’, etc., alongside AM/PM.
• Combining ‘in the morning,’ ‘in the afternoon’, etc., with a 24-hour time.
• Using ‘midday’, ‘noon’, or ‘midnight’ alongside a time in numbers.

We’ll end this post with a few examples of redundancies so you know what to watch out for. Check out the table below, good luck writing the time, and let us know if you need any help proofreading your work.

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Writing Style Guide

A variety of different styles may be acceptable for formal invitations. The following style should be used in text for print and electronic communications. Use numbers for times, except for noon and midnight, use a colon to separate hours and minutes and do not use ciphers (double zeros) with whole hours.

• The meeting will be held from 8 to 11:45 a.m.
• Sessions begin at noon, 2:30 and 4 p.m.
• The workshop runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Lowercase a.m. and p.m. and always use periods.
• Lowercase noon and midnight.
• Do not use 12 noon or 12 midnight (redundant). Use noon or midnight.
• Do not use 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. Use noon or midnight.
• Do not use 8 a.m. in the morning (redundant) Use 8 a.m.
• Do not use o’clock with a.m. or p.m.

Do not use dashes

Do not use dashes in place of "to" or "through" or "and" or "until" with times of day or days of the week.

• Use : The meetings are 8 to 11 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
• Not : The meetings are 8-11 a.m., Monday-Thursday.

An n-dash may be used with dates (e.g., July 18–21), and should always be used with dates when both days of the week and dates are included .

• Example : The play runs Monday through Thursday, July 18–21.

When listing a beginning and ending time separated only by the word "to," or when listing a series of times when all times listed are a.m. or p.m., use a.m. or p.m. only once, following the final time listed.

Use : The meeting will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Not : The meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Use : Sessions begin at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Not : Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

References to midnight can cause confusion. Is midnight Friday at the beginning or at the end of Friday? That’s why insurance policies usually take effect at 12:01 a.m. and why airline schedules list flights at 11:59 p.m. or 12:01 a.m. and not midnight.

In many references, midnight is perfectly acceptable. In the sentence, "The dance will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday," the meaning is clear.

AM or a.m., PM or p.m.: Do I Capitalize AM and PM?

Home » AM or a.m., PM or p.m.: Do I Capitalize AM and PM?

When emphasizing an exact or precise time, the abbreviations “a.m.” and “p.m.” are used. These two abbreviations stand for the Latin terms “ante meridiem” and “post meridiem,” which literally mean before noon and after noon.

AM and PM as Lowercase Letters

There are a few generally accepted ways to write these abbreviations in your writing. The first and most common way to write them is with lowercase “a.m.” and “p.m.”

This way requires periods, and both Chicago Style and AP Style recommend this way of writing the abbreviations.

• This subway train will leave daily at 10:05 a.m.
• After 10:00 p.m. I really need to sleep.

AM and PM as Small Capitals

Rather than using the lowercase method, the abbreviations can also be written using small capitals. This way can be written with or without periods. For example, both of the following are acceptable,

• We will meet for lunch Tuesday at 10:00 AM.
• We will meet for lunch Tuesday at 10:00 A.M.

Given that is acceptable to write “a.m.” and “p.m.” a couple of different ways, you should always make sure that you are being consistent. Pick one way and stick with it.

For example, you should never punctuate a sentence as follows,

• I leave for work at 8:00 AM and get home at 6:25 p.m.

Instead, it should be written in one of the following ways.

• I leave for work at 8:00 a.m. and get home at 6:25 p.m.
• I leave for work at 8:00 AM and get home at 6:25 PM.
• I leave for work at 8:00 A.M. and get home at 6:25 P.M.

Putting Small Caps Into Microsoft Word

What are small capitals? Not many people know what they are. Small capitals are simply uppercase (or capital) letters that are set at the same height and weight as lowercase (or small) letters. For example,

• AM PM, AM PM , a.m. p.m.

The first “AM PM” is all caps. The second is small caps. The third is lowercase.But how do you put these into Microsoft Word?Well, it is actually pretty easy, and there are a few different ways.

The easiest way to do it is to highlight and “right click” the text that you want to change to small caps. After you do this, click “font” and a window will appear. You will then see a box that says “Small caps.” Click this box and then click “OK.” Your text will then change into small caps. You can use this same method if you are using a Mac. You can also click the “Small caps” button on your formatting palette, and it will change the font into small caps.

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• Writing Tips

How to Write the Date in an Essay

3-minute read

• 4th February 2016

You probably see the date written down (or displayed on a screen) dozens of times every day. You might even have to write it out yourself if you’re booking an appointment or organising your schedule.

Despite this, most of us give very little thought to how we write the date. In academic writing and other formal contexts , however, it’s important to use a clear and consistent format.

Different Formats

The most important thing to remember when writing the date is that, in the UK and throughout most of the world, we favour a day-month-year format (otherwise known as the little-endian sequence ). This can be presented in numerous ways, including:

• Day + Month (e.g. 21 April)
• Day + Month + Year (e.g., 21 April 2016)
• Numbers Only (e.g. 21/04/2016)

There are also variations to how these can be presented, such as using an ordinal suffix after the day.  These are the letters we’d use if we were writing the number out in full and are often written with a superscript font:

We last spoke on the 21st of April.

The meetings will be held on the 2 nd of February and the 13 th June.

Sometimes, the month in the date can be shortened to save space:

14 January 2012 → 14 Jan. 2012

9 October → 9 Oct.

However, generally in formal writing it’s better to use the longer format for clarity. Likewise, when including a date in an essay you should usually write it out (e.g. 21 April 2016) rather than use the numbers-only style.

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Check Your Style Guide and Be Consistent

Since there are various ways of writing the date, you should always check your university’s style guide to see if a preferred format is specified. If it doesn’t offer any particular advice, simply pick a clear format that suits you and make sure to use it consistently for all dates in your essay.

UK vs. American Dates

The other thing to keep in mind when writing (and reading) dates is how the US date format differs from ours. In America, dates use a month-day-year format, which can lead to problems when they are written out in numbers only as days and months get confused.

The US date format also places a comma between the day and year when both are numbers, as well as omitting superscript letters. The only time you would use superscript letters after the day in the US date format is when writing it out in full as, e.g., the 10 th of September.

You can see a few examples of UK and US dates below:

As you can see, the date ‘07/04/2016’ represents the 7th of April 2016 in the UK, but the same numbers indicate the 4th of July in America! Take care about which format you use when writing for international audiences.

The International Date Format

Finally, if you’re sharing information across the world, you may want to use the  international date format (ISO 8601) . This is a standardized format that works across borders, so it is commonly used by government organizations and global businesses. And it always uses the format YYYY-MM-DD, which removes any chance of confusion:

We sent the invoice on 2020-07-10 .

The date above, for example, denotes the 10th of July 2020.

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How to Write the Perfect Essay: A Step-By-Step Guide for Students

• June 2, 2022

• What is an essay? 

What makes a good essay?

Typical essay structure, 7 steps to writing a good essay, a step-by-step guide to writing a good essay.

Whether you are gearing up for your GCSE coursework submissions or looking to brush up on your A-level writing skills, we have the perfect essay-writing guide for you. 💯

Staring at a blank page before writing an essay can feel a little daunting . Where do you start? What should your introduction say? And how should you structure your arguments? They are all fair questions and we have the answers! Take the stress out of essay writing with this step-by-step guide – you’ll be typing away in no time. 👩‍💻

What is an essay?

Generally speaking, an essay designates a literary work in which the author defends a point of view or a personal conviction, using logical arguments and literary devices in order to inform and convince the reader.

So – although essays can be broadly split into four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive – an essay can simply be described as a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. 🤔

The purpose of an essay is to present a coherent argument in response to a stimulus or question and to persuade the reader that your position is credible, believable and reasonable. 👌

So, a ‘good’ essay relies on a confident writing style – it’s clear, well-substantiated, focussed, explanatory and descriptive . The structure follows a logical progression and above all, the body of the essay clearly correlates to the tile – answering the question where one has been posed. 

But, how do you go about making sure that you tick all these boxes and keep within a specified word count? Read on for the answer as well as an example essay structure to follow and a handy step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay – hooray. 🙌

Sometimes, it is helpful to think about your essay like it is a well-balanced argument or a speech – it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question in a coherent manner. ⚖️

Of course, essays can vary significantly in length but besides that, they all follow a fairly strict pattern or structure made up of three sections. Lean into this predictability because it will keep you on track and help you make your point clearly. Let’s take a look at the typical essay structure:  

#1 Introduction

Start your introduction with the central claim of your essay. Let the reader know exactly what you intend to say with this essay. Communicate what you’re going to argue, and in what order. The final part of your introduction should also say what conclusions you’re going to draw – it sounds counter-intuitive but it’s not – more on that below. 1️⃣

Make your point, evidence it and explain it. This part of the essay – generally made up of three or more paragraphs depending on the length of your essay – is where you present your argument. The first sentence of each paragraph – much like an introduction to an essay – should summarise what your paragraph intends to explain in more detail. 2️⃣

#3 Conclusion

This is where you affirm your argument – remind the reader what you just proved in your essay and how you did it. This section will sound quite similar to your introduction but – having written the essay – you’ll be summarising rather than setting out your stall. 3️⃣

No essay is the same but your approach to writing them can be. As well as some best practice tips, we have gathered our favourite advice from expert essay-writers and compiled the following 7-step guide to writing a good essay every time. 👍

#1 Make sure you understand the question

#2 complete background reading.

#3 Make a detailed plan 

#4 Write your opening sentences 

#5 flesh out your essay in a rough draft, #6 evidence your opinion, #7 final proofread and edit.

Now that you have familiarised yourself with the 7 steps standing between you and the perfect essay, let’s take a closer look at each of those stages so that you can get on with crafting your written arguments with confidence . 

This is the most crucial stage in essay writing – r ead the essay prompt carefully and understand the question. Highlight the keywords – like ‘compare,’ ‘contrast’ ‘discuss,’ ‘explain’ or ‘evaluate’ – and let it sink in before your mind starts racing . There is nothing worse than writing 500 words before realising you have entirely missed the brief . 🧐

Unless you are writing under exam conditions , you will most likely have been working towards this essay for some time, by doing thorough background reading. Re-read relevant chapters and sections, highlight pertinent material and maybe even stray outside the designated reading list, this shows genuine interest and extended knowledge. 📚

#3 Make a detailed plan

Following the handy structure we shared with you above, now is the time to create the ‘skeleton structure’ or essay plan. Working from your essay title, plot out what you want your paragraphs to cover and how that information is going to flow. You don’t need to start writing any full sentences yet but it might be useful to think about the various quotes you plan to use to substantiate each section. 📝

Having mapped out the overall trajectory of your essay, you can start to drill down into the detail. First, write the opening sentence for each of the paragraphs in the body section of your essay. Remember – each paragraph is like a mini-essay – the opening sentence should summarise what the paragraph will then go on to explain in more detail. 🖊️

Next, it's time to write the bulk of your words and flesh out your arguments. Follow the ‘point, evidence, explain’ method. The opening sentences – already written – should introduce your ‘points’, so now you need to ‘evidence’ them with corroborating research and ‘explain’ how the evidence you’ve presented proves the point you’re trying to make. ✍️

With a rough draft in front of you, you can take a moment to read what you have written so far. Are there any sections that require further substantiation? Have you managed to include the most relevant material you originally highlighted in your background reading? Now is the time to make sure you have evidenced all your opinions and claims with the strongest quotes, citations and material. 📗

This is your final chance to re-read your essay and go over it with a fine-toothed comb before pressing ‘submit’. We highly recommend leaving a day or two between finishing your essay and the final proofread if possible – you’ll be amazed at the difference this makes, allowing you to return with a fresh pair of eyes and a more discerning judgment. 🤓

If you are looking for advice and support with your own essay-writing adventures, why not t ry a free trial lesson with GoStudent? Our tutors are experts at boosting academic success and having fun along the way. Get in touch and see how it can work for you today. 🎒

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9 Best Ways to Write a Date and Time Range in a Sentence

Writing date and time ranges don’t have to be challenging in your writing. Some people are worried about them because they often include numbers (i.e. “June 13th”), but you don’t have to be alarmed. This article will demonstrate the best ways to write date and time ranges.

The preferred ways to write it include “January 3-7 (Monday-Friday), 2022, at 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.,” “Monday-Friday, January 3-7, 2022, 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. daily,” and “M-F, 09:00-17:00, 3-7 Jan, 2022.” All of these options provide just the right level of detail to help you clarify ranges.

January 3-7 (Monday-Friday), 2022, At 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m.

This phrase is a great way of showing a time and date range. It covers all the necessary information, starting with the month and dates. From there, it goes to the specific days, the year, and the time.

Everything you could possibly need is covered when this format is used. It’s also sufficiently formal, allowing you to use it in any situation whether you’re at work or in a more informal setting.

Since every detail is covered, you’ll often find that people don’t need further clarification or information. They won’t need to miss out on the event because they’ll know exactly when it is taking place.

• I think it’s set for January 3-7 (Monday-Friday), 2022, from 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. Does that ring any bells for you?
• It’s going to have to be held on June 10-14 (Tuesday-Saturday), 2020, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. That’s my final offer.
• Can we do February 8-12 (Monday-Friday), 2022, at 09:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. That’s a good window of time for me to get this done.

Monday-Friday, January 3-7, 2022, 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. Daily

In the spirit of good detail, this phrase also works well. This time, the days of the week come first (which is more natural to most speakers). After that, the dates come, then it finishes with the time again.

This format is more traditional in spoken English. It’s common for days to come before dates because people are used to using things like “Monday-Friday” when they are casually speaking to people.

• Monday-Friday, January 3-7, 2022, 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. daily. That’s when this will be held . Be there!
• I think they said Monday-Friday, March 13-17, 2022, 09:00 a.m. – 05:00 p.m. daily. That’s about as good as it’s going to get, I’m afraid.
• You will have to be there on Wednesday-Sunday, August 20-24, 2022, 09:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily. That’s what we can offer right now.

M-F, 09:00-17:00, 3-7 Jan 2022

If you want a slightly more crisp time and date range, this phrase is a good one to use. You can abbreviate the days of the week to their starting letters (M-F). Also, it’s wise to use a digital clock when you don’t want to specify the “a.m.” or “p.m.” times in your message.

Shortening the month name (January to “Jan”) is a good way of getting straight to the point as well.

This format is great because it still covers all of the relevant information. However, it does it in a more concise way, which more people will respond to.

• I can do M-F, 09:00-17:00, 3-7 Feb 2022. What do you say about that? I think we have to settle on this right away.
• Are you going to be free M-W, 09:00-13:00, 6-10 Jun 2022? I think that’s the only time that we have on offer right now.
• I will be there M-F, 09:00-14:00, 4-8 Mar 2022. That’s about all the time we need to make sure that everything goes right here.

3-7 Jan 2022 (M-F 09:00-17:00)

This is another good way of using digital time over an analog one. Here, “January” is again shortened to “Jan” (and any month can do the same). Also, Monday and Friday are abbreviated to their starting letters, and a digital time frame is used.

It’s just another way of wording the above phrase. Some people prefer to get the dates out of the way first and then follow them with the days (rather than putting the days before the dates in the previous section).

• We’re going to go from 3-7 Jan 2022 (M-F 09:00-17:00). Do you think you’re going to be able to come along with us?
• I want to set this for 20-24 Nov 2022 (M-F 10:00-14:00). I’m not sure if there’s anything specific I need to bring, but I’m happy to learn.
• You will go from 10-14 Jul 2022 (M-F 12:00-20:00). That’s my final offer, and I expect you to follow through with my request here.

This/Next Monday To Friday Between 09:00 a.m. And 05:00 p.m.

This phrase works well when you’re speaking to someone in passing. If you’re only letting them know that something is happening, you might not need to set up a formal way for them to record the date or time range.

“This” and “next” are great ways of letting someone know the dates of something without specifying them. The assumption is that “this Monday to Friday” implies the days that come up next. “Next Monday to Friday” implies the following week after that.

As long as you know the differences between “this” and “next,” you’ll have an easy time understanding this time and date range.

• It’s going to be running this Monday to Friday, between 09:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m. We hope that you’ll be able to come along!
• Join in! It’s next Monday to Friday, between 10:00 a.m. and 02:00 p.m. It’s going to be some of the most fun we’ve ever had around here.
• No, you’ll find it starts next Monday to Wednesday, between 12:00 p.m. and 08:00 p.m. Are you going to be able to attend?

From 3-7 January at 09:00 – 17:00 Daily

Here, the dates are reintroduced, but we’re still using a digital time frame to help people understand when something occurs. “From” is a prepositional choice that shows that something lasts between two different dates.

• I thought you said it was from 3-7 January at 09:00 – 17:00 daily! Why isn’t anything starting yet? Am I getting my dates confused?
• Yes, we’ve set it from 11-15 February at 10:00-18:00 daily. It’s going to be the most exciting event we’ve had here in a long time.
• I’ll be there from 22-26 March from 12:00-17:00 daily. I think that’s all I can manage, but I’ll see if I’m able to stick around for more.

Every Day This/Next Week

You can use “every day this/next week” when you are speaking colloquially with someone. If the week in question is already specified, then you don’t often have to take it any further than that.

People will not get confused by your meaning if you set a date like this. If you say “every day this week,” it implies that you mean every weekday (unless you specify otherwise).

• Of course, we’ve got it set for every day this week! We hope that’s going to be more than enough excitement for you.
• It’s on every day this week at the same time! Hopefully, you’ll be able to bring a few extra people along with you next time .
• You’ll find us here every day next week! Just ask for me by name, and I’ll be sure to come and help you out with it!

January 3-7, Monday-Friday, Between 09:00 And 05:00

This setting is a good choice, but you might notice that we’ve removed “a.m.” and “p.m.” It works well because it assumes that people already aspect it to run from the morning to the afternoon.

After all, saying 09:00 – 05:00 and meaning from morning to morning would be a very strange setting for an event. Most events don’t run for almost twenty-four hours, which is why you don’t always need to determine the time with “a.m.” and “p.m.” clarifications.

• We’ve set it for January 3-7, Monday-Friday, between 09:00 and 05:00. We really hope you can all make it. It wouldn’t be the same without you.
• June 13th-17th, Tuesday-Saturday, between 10:00 and 06:00. It’s the only time that we’re able to get this done, I’m afraid.
• It will be from December 20th-24th, Monday-Friday, between 07:00 and 10:00. Are you going to be able to make it or not?

The 3rd To The 7th Of This/Next Month, 09:00 – 05:00 Daily

This phrase is written out in a more streamlined way. The dash is removed and replaced with “to the.” It’s slightly more formal because of this, but it still removes the use of “a.m.” and “p.m.” because it assumes that people already understand when something runs.

• This event will run from the 3rd to the 7th of this month, 09:00 – 05:00 daily. Be there, or be square!
• We will host this from the 3rd to the 7th of next month. It’s 10:00 – 2:00 daily, so we hope you’ll be able to make it!
• The 13th to the 17th of next month will be the dates of the event. It will run from 12:00 to 3:00 daily. Will you be attending?

You may also like: 9 Best Ways To Denote Date and Time in Written English Correct Date Format by Country (UK vs. US vs. Europe)

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

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The One Method That Changes Your—and All Students’—Writing

Science-based writing methods can achieve dramatic results..

Posted May 14, 2024 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

• Why Education Is Important
• Find a Child Therapist
• A systematic writing framework offers a method for dramatically improving the teaching of writing.
• This method received only limited uptake, despite high-profile research publications and textbooks.
• A focus on writing style might have limited the method's impacts.

I remember spending hours commenting painstakingly on my students’ papers when I was a graduate student teaching in the Expository Writing Program at New York University. My students loved our classes, and they filled my sections and gave me terrific course evaluations. Yet I could see that their writing failed to change significantly over the course of the semester. I ended up feeling as if I should refund their money, haunted by the blunt instruments we had to teach writing.

As I’ve learned from directing five writing programs at three different universities, methods matter. When I reviewed comments on papers from instructors who taught in my programs, I discovered that the quantity and quality of comments on students’ papers made only a slight impact on writing outcomes. For instance, one notoriously lazy instructor took several weeks to return assignments and only used spelling and grammar checkers to automate comments. But his conscientious colleague made dozens of sharp observations about students’ arguments, paragraphs, and sentences. However, Mr. Conscientious’ students improved perhaps only 10% over Mr. Minimalist’s students. Even then, the differences stemmed from basic guidelines Mr. Conscientious insisted his students write to, which included providing context sentences at the outset of their essay introductions.

Educators have also poured resources into teaching writing, with increasing numbers of hours dedicated to teaching writing across primary, secondary, and higher education . Yet studies continue to find writing skills inadequate . In higher education, most universities require at least a year of writing-intensive courses, with many universities also requiring writing across the curriculum or writing in the disciplines to help preserve students’ writing skills. However, writing outcomes have remained mostly unchanged .

While pursuing my doctorate, I dedicated my research to figuring out how writing worked. As a graduate student also teaching part-time, I was an early convert to process writing. I also taught those ancient principles of logos, ethos, and pathos, as well as grammar and punctuation. Nevertheless, these frameworks only created a canvas for students’ writing. What was missing: how writers should handle words, sentence structure, and relationships between sentences.

Yet researchers published the beginnings of a science-based writing method over 30 years ago. George Gopen, Gregory Colomb, and Joseph Williams created a framework for identifying how to maximize the clarity, coherence, and continuity of writing. In particular, Gopen and Swan (1990) created a methodology for making scientific writing readable . This work should have been a revelation to anyone teaching in or directing a writing program. But, weirdly, comparatively few writing programs or faculty embraced this work, despite Williams, Colomb, and Gopen publishing both research and textbooks outlining the method and process.

Peculiarly, this framework—represented by Williams’ Style series of textbooks and Gopen’s reader expectation approach—failed to become standard in writing courses, likely because of two limitations. First, both Gopen and Williams hewed to a relativistic stance on writing methods, noting that rule-flouting often creates a memorable style. This stance created a raft of often-contradictory principles for writing. For example, Williams demonstrated that beginning sentences with There is or There are openings hijacked the clarity of sentences, then argued writers should use There is or There are to shunt important content into sentence emphasis positions, where readers recall content best. Second, these researchers failed to tie this writing framework to the wealth of data in psycholinguistics, cognitive neuroscience , or cognitive psychology on how our reading brains process written English. For instance, textbooks written by these three principal researchers avoid any mention of why emphasis positions exist at the ends of sentences and paragraphs—despite the concept clearly originating in the recency effect. This limitation may stem from the humanities’ long-held antipathy to the idea that writing is a product, rather than a process. Or even that science-based methods can help teachers and programs measure the effectiveness of writing, one reason why university First-Year Writing programs have failed to improve students’ writing in any measurable way.

Nevertheless, when you teach students how our reading brains work, you create a powerful method for rapidly improving their writing—in any course that requires writing and at all levels of education. Students can grasp how writing works as a system and assess the costs and benefits of decisions writers face, even as they choose their first words. This method also works powerfully to help students immediately understand how, for instance, paragraph heads leverage priming effects to shape readers’ understanding of paragraph content.

Using this method, I and my colleagues have helped students use a single writing assignment to secure hundreds of jobs, win millions in grant funding, and advance through the ranks in academia. However, we’ve also used the same method without modifications in elementary and secondary classrooms to bolster students’ writing by as much as three grade levels in a single year.

Perhaps the time has arrived for this well-kept secret to revolutionizing student writing outcomes to begin making inroads into more writing classrooms.

Gopen, G. D. and J. A. Swan (1990). "The Science of Scientific Writing." American Scientist 78(6): 550-558.

Gopen, George. The Sense of Structure: Writing from the Reader’s Perspective . Pearson, 2004.

Gopen, George. Expectations: Teaching Writing from the Reader’s Perspective . Pearson, 2004.

Williams, Joseph. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace . University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Williams, Joseph. Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace . Harper Collins, 1994.

Williams, Joseph. Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace . Longman, 2002.

Jane Yellowlees Douglas, Ph.D. , is a consultant on writing and organizations. She is also the author, with Maria B. Grant, MD, of The Biomedical Writer: What You Need to Succeed in Academic Medicine .

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When Should You Start Writing Your College Essay? 

Posted on May 29, 2024

Let’s be frank: there’s never an ideal moment to craft college essays. At best, there are times that are somewhat less unfavorable.

Why is that? Simply put, there’s constantly going to be something else that requires your attention right now. A more captivating event, a task that eats up more time, a thrilling experience, pressure-filled situations — you get what I mean.

Nevertheless, it’s important to tackle the task of writing your college essays, and it’s best to do so well in advance of submission dates. My extensive experience with a diverse range of students has taught me that composing an essay becomes much more manageable when divided into more digestible segments. Thus, beginning the process early, approaching it gradually, and allowing ample time for introspection and idea generation are crucial steps. 

For those seeking additional support or guidance throughout the essay writing process, considering the assistance of professional essay writing services can provide valuable expertise and assistance in crafting compelling and polished essays.

When should I start writing my college essay ?

For every student, it’s best to begin thinking about essay topics early, for example, around winter during your junior year. The most challenging aspect of essay writing for college applications is identifying what to write about, as it requires extensive self-examination and time. Consequently, if your school assigns the task of composing the personal statement (also recognized as the Common App essay) in the spring, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle it.

In most cases, the best time to write my college essay is the summer following the junior year. You should aim to complete it before the senior year kicks off. By doing so, you can remove the burden of essay writing from your to-do list and concentrate on finalizing your application submissions, as well as dedicating attention to your final-year courses and extracurricular engagements.

Students planning to attend summer camp should aim to complete their personal statements before going there. Additionally, they should have all additional essays finished by October 31st.

Students aiming for Early Action or Early Decision should aim to have their essays completed by the end of September, which is a month prior to the typical ED/EA application deadlines. Doing this will ensure you have ample opportunity to review your essay and refine it if necessary before sending in your application in early to mid-October.

Students who have numerous supplement essays should aim to complete them by October 31st. It will allow you to concentrate on your senior year, where maintaining high grades is crucial, and also have ample time to respond to any potential deferrals or waitlist decisions.

When to write college essay depends on your goals and commitments other than applying for college. Yet, it is best for all students to complete their essays at least a month prior to the due date. Doing so allows ample opportunity to carefully review them, make adjustments, and refine the work without the stress of an approaching deadline.

Who can help me in crafting college application essays?

Your mentors, teachers, tutors, and professional admission essay writers can all help you maximize your chances for success. They can oversee your writing process and ensure you meet your deadlines, removing that burden from parents. Additionally, they motivate you to engage in self-reflection about your personal narratives and offer constructive criticism for every version of every essay and application. Essay writers can help you with the entire writing process, ensuring you get a well-crafted and polished essay to submit. 

Reach out for help early, during your junior year in November, with the winter months being the preferable period to initiate the writing process. This gives you the necessary time to brainstorm ideas and approach the task in a thoughtful and organized manner. 

Final Thoughts 

Starting your college essay early is key to creating a compelling and thoughtful piece. By beginning the process during the junior year and aiming to finish by the start of senior year, students can alleviate the pressure of deadlines and dedicate the necessary time to refine their essays. Remember, the support of mentors and professional essay writers can be invaluable in navigating this crucial step towards your college journey, ensuring your essays are both profound and polished.

Read more here: https://collegian.com/sponsored/2024/05/when-should-you-start-writing-your-college-essay/ Copyright 2024

Spending too much time on social media and doomscrolling? The problem might be FOMO

Senior Lecturer - Psychology | Chair, Researchers in Behavioural Addictions, Alcohol and Drugs (BAAD), Charles Darwin University

Disclosure statement

Kim M Caudwell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Charles Darwin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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For as long as we have used the internet to communicate and connect with each other , it has influenced how we think, feel and behave.

During the COVID pandemic, many of us were “cut off” from our social worlds through restrictions, lockdowns and mandates. Understandably, many of us tried to find ways to connect online .

Now, as pandemic restrictions have lifted, some of the ways we use the internet have become concerning. Part of what drives problematic internet use may be something most of us are familiar with – the fear of missing out, or FOMO.

In our latest research , my colleagues and I investigated the role FOMO plays in two kinds of internet use: problematic social media use and “doomscrolling”.

What are FOMO, problematic social media use and doomscrolling?

FOMO is the fear some of us experience when we get a sense of “missing out” on things happening in our social scene. Psychology researchers have been studying FOMO for more than a decade , and it has consistently been linked to mental health and wellbeing , alcohol use and problematic social media use .

Social media use becomes a problem for people when they have difficulty controlling urges to use social media, have difficulty cutting back on use, and where the use has a negative impact on their everyday life.

Doomscrolling is characterised by a need to constantly look at and seek out “bad” news . Doomscrollers may constantly refresh their news feeds or stay up late to read bad news.

While problematic social media use has been around for a while, doomscrolling seems to be a more recent phenomenon – attracting research attention during and following the pandemic.

What we tried to find out

In our study, we wanted to test the idea that FOMO leads individuals to engage in problematic use behaviours due to their difficulty in managing the “fear” in FOMO.

The key factor, we thought, was emotion regulation – our ability to deal with our emotions. We know some people tend to be good at this, while others find it difficult. In fact, greater difficulties with emotion regulation was linked to experiencing greater acute stress related to COVID .

Read more: Why am I online? Research shows it's often about managing emotions

However, an idea that has been gaining attention recently is interpersonal emotion regulation . This means looking to others to help us regulate our emotions.

Interpersonal emotion regulation can be helpful (such as “ affective engagement ”, where someone might listen and talk about your feelings) or unhelpful (such as “ co-rumination ” or rehashing problems together), depending on the context.

In our analyses, we sought to uncover how both intrapersonal emotion regulation (ability to self-manage our own emotional states) and interpersonal emotion regulation (relying on others to help manage our emotions) accounted for the link between FOMO and problematic social media use, and FOMO and doomscrolling, respectively.

What we found – and what it might mean for the future of internet use

Our findings indicated that people who report stronger FOMO engage in problematic social media use because of difficulty regulating their emotions (intrapersonally), and they look to others for help (interpersonally).

Similarly, people who report stronger FOMO are drawn to doomscrolling because of difficulty regulating their emotions intrapersonally (within themselves). However, we found no link between FOMO and doomscrolling through interpersonal emotion regulation.

We suspect this difference may be due to doomscrolling being more of a solitary activity, occurring outside more social contexts that facilitate interpersonal regulation. For instance, there are probably fewer people with whom to share your emotions while staying up trawling through bad news.

While links between FOMO and doomscrolling have been observed before, our study is among the first to try and account for this theoretically.

We suspect the link between FOMO and doomscrolling may be more about having more of an online presence while things are happening . This would account for intrapersonal emotion regulation failing to help manage our reactions to “bad news” stories as they unfold, leading to doomscrolling.

Problematic social media use, on the other hand, involves a more complex interpersonal context. If someone is feeling the fear of being “left out” and has difficulty managing that feeling, they may be drawn to social media platforms in part to try and elicit help from others in their network.

Getting the balance right

Our findings suggest the current discussions around restricting social media use for young people , while controversial, are important. We need to balance our need for social connection – which is happening increasingly online – with the detrimental consequences associated with problematic internet use behaviours.

It is important to also consider the nature of social media platforms and how they have changed over time. For example, adolescent social media use patterns across various platforms are associated with different mental health and socialisation outcomes.

Public health policy experts and legislators have quite the challenge ahead of them here. Recent work has shown how loneliness is a contributing factor to all-cause mortality (death from any cause).

Read more: Doomscrolling is literally bad for your health. Here are 4 tips to help you stop

We have long known, too, that social connectedness is good for our mental health . In fact, last year, the World Health Organization established a Commission on Social Connection to help promote the importance of socialisation to our lives.

The recent controversy in the United States around the ownership of TikTok illustrates how central social media platforms are to our lives and ways of interacting with one another. We need to consider the rights of individuals to use them as they please, but understand that governments carry the responsibility of protecting users from harm and safeguarding their privacy.

If you feel concerned about problematic social media use or doomscrolling, you can speak to a healthcare or mental health professional. You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 13 YARN (13 92 76) to yarn with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters.

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• Fear of missing out
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