What is 24-Hour Time?
24-hour time is a way of telling time that runs from midnight to midnight, divided into 24 hours. It starts at 00:00 and ends at 23:59.
How Does It Work?
In 24-hour time, the day starts at 00:00, which is midnight. From there, the hours count up to 23:00, which is 11:00 PM. Here’s how it looks compared to the 12-hour clock:
| 24-Hour Time | 12-Hour Time |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 12:00 AM (midnight) |
| 01:00 | 1:00 AM |
| 02:00 | 2:00 AM |
| 03:00 | 3:00 AM |
| 04:00 | 4:00 AM |
| 05:00 | 5:00 AM |
| 06:00 | 6:00 AM |
| 07:00 | 7:00 AM |
| 08:00 | 8:00 AM |
| 09:00 | 9:00 AM |
| 10:00 | 10:00 AM |
| 11:00 | 11:00 AM |
| 12:00 | 12:00 PM (noon) |
| 13:00 | 1:00 PM |
| 14:00 | 2:00 PM |
| 15:00 | 3:00 PM |
| 16:00 | 4:00 PM |
| 17:00 | 5:00 PM |
| 18:00 | 6:00 PM |
| 19:00 | 7:00 PM |
| 20:00 | 8:00 PM |
| 21:00 | 9:00 PM |
| 22:00 | 10:00 PM |
| 23:00 | 11:00 PM |
Key Points to Remember
- Midnight is 00:00: The day starts at 00:00 (midnight).
- No AM/PM: There is no need to specify AM or PM. Each hour of the day has a unique number.
- Afternoon and Evening: After 12:00 noon, you keep counting up. For example, 1:00 PM is 13:00, 2:00 PM is 14:00, and so on.
- Converting 24-Hour to 12-Hour: If the hour is greater than 12, subtract 12 to convert it to PM. For example, 18:00 - 12 = 6:00 PM.
Why Use 24-Hour Time?
- Clarity: It avoids confusion between AM and PM.
- Consistency: It’s widely used in the military, aviation, hospitals, and other fields where precise timekeeping is crucial.
Examples
- 15:30: This is 3:30 PM (15 - 12 = 3).
- 08:45: This is 8:45 AM (since it’s less than 12).
- 22:00: This is 10:00 PM (22 - 12 = 10).
So, 24-hour time is a straightforward way to keep track of the hours in a day, ensuring there’s no confusion about what time it is! """