This Hint is the first of several summaries on how to
say different times.

You can say times with hours only in several
different ways:

as numbers only

11:00 = eleven
7:00 = seven
4:00 = four

with o'clock

9:00 = nine o'clock;
3:00 = three o'clock;
5:00 = five o'clock

with in the morning, in the afternoon,
or at night (with or without o'clock)

2:00 =
two [ o'clock ] in the morning /
two [ o'clock ] in the afternoon

6:00 =
six [ o'clock ] in the morning /
six [ o'clock ] in the evening

10:00 =
ten [ o'clock ] in the morning /
ten [ o'clock ] at night

with AM or PM

1:00 AM / 1:00 PM
8:00 AM / 8:00 PM
11:00 AM / 11:00 PM

Remember that 12:00 during the day is usually
called noon and that 12:00 during the night is
usually called midnight.

If the time is after midnight but before noon,
use AM (or in the morning).

If the time is after noon but before midnight,
use PM (or in the evening / at night /
in the morning)

Note: Noon is sometimes written as 12:00 N
and midnight is sometimes written as 12:00 M.

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You can also use on the dot, sharp, or exactly
(with or without o'clock, AM, or PM):

1:00 = one [ o'clock / AM / PM ] on the dot
8:00 = eight [ o'clock / AM / PM ] on the dot
11:00 = two [ o'clock / AM / PM ] on the dot

or

1:00 = one [ o'clock / AM / PM ] sharp
8:00 = eight [ o'clock / AM / PM ] sharp
11:00 = two [ o'clock / AM / PM ] sharp

or

1:00 = exactly one [ o'clock / AM / PM ]
8:00 = exactly eight [ o'clock / AM / PM ]
11:00 = exactly two [ o'clock / AM / PM ]

Note: Do not use AM, PM, or o'clock with noon
or with midnight:

wrong (for noon): *noon AM /
*noon o'clock

wrong (for midnight): *midnight PM /
*midnight o'clock

Note: You can use 12:00 with noon or midnight:

OK (for noon): 12:00 noon

OK (for midnight): 12:00 midnight

Note: You will sometimes use N for noon and
M for midnight:

OK (for noon): 12:00 N

OK (for midnight): 12:00 M