When To Use Ap Style Times? Conversion Tips

The Associated Press (AP) style is a widely used writing style guide in the journalism and public relations industries. One of the key aspects of AP style is its guidelines for writing times. Understanding when to use AP style times and how to convert between different time formats is essential for writers and editors. In this article, we will explore the rules for using AP style times and provide conversion tips to help you master this important aspect of writing.

AP Style Times: The Basics

AP style recommends using numerals to write times, except for noon and midnight. For example, 3 p.m. is preferred over three p.m. or three o’clock in the afternoon. When writing times, it is also important to use the correct abbreviations: a.m. (ante meridiem) for morning and p.m. (post meridiem) for afternoon and evening. Note that ante meridiem refers to the time before noon, while post meridiem refers to the time after noon.

Converting 12-Hour Clock to AP Style

To convert times from the 12-hour clock to AP style, follow these guidelines:

• Use numerals for hours and minutes, separated by a colon (e.g., 3:45 p.m.)
• Omit the colon and minutes when the time is on the hour (e.g., 3 p.m.)
• Use a.m. and p.m. to indicate morning and afternoon/evening, respectively
• Avoid using o’clock, except in direct quotes or to avoid confusion (e.g., 12 o’clock is acceptable to distinguish between noon and midnight)

For example, 3:45 in the afternoon would be written as 3:45 p.m. in AP style. Similarly, 12:00 noon would be written as noon, while 12:00 midnight would be written as midnight.

24-Hour Clock to AP Style Conversion

When converting times from the 24-hour clock to AP style, the process is straightforward. Simply divide the 24-hour time into hours and minutes, and then apply the AP style guidelines.

For instance, 14:30 in the 24-hour clock would be converted to 2:30 p.m. in AP style. Similarly, 00:45 would become 12:45 a.m.

Time Zones and AP Style

When writing about times in different time zones, it is essential to specify the time zone to avoid confusion. AP style recommends using the following time zones:

For example, if an event is taking place at 3 p.m. EST, you would write: “The event will occur at 3 p.m. EST.” If you need to specify the time in another time zone, you can use a phrase such as “2 p.m. CST” or “1 p.m. PST.”

Special Cases and Exceptions

There are some special cases and exceptions to the AP style guidelines for times. For instance:

• Holiday hours: When writing about holiday hours, use the phrase “until” to indicate the time, rather than “through” (e.g., “The store is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Christmas Day.”)
• Time ranges: When writing about time ranges, use an en dash (–) to separate the times, rather than a hyphen (e.g., “The store is open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.”)
• Recurring events: When writing about recurring events, use the phrase “every” to indicate the frequency, rather than “each” (e.g., “The meeting is held every Monday at 2 p.m.”)

Additionally, time zones can be specified using the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) offset, which is the number of hours ahead of or behind UTC. For example, EST is equivalent to UTC-5, while PST is equivalent to UTC-8.

Best Practices for Writing Times in AP Style

To ensure that you are writing times in AP style correctly, follow these best practices:

1. Use a style guide: Keep a copy of the AP style guide handy to reference when you have questions about writing times.
2. Be consistent: Use the same style for writing times throughout your document or publication.
3. Specify time zones: Always specify the time zone when writing about times in different locations.
4. Use numerals: Use numerals to write times, except for noon and midnight.
5. Proofread: Carefully proofread your work to catch any errors in writing times.

By following these best practices, you can ensure that your writing is accurate, clear, and consistent, and that you are using AP style times correctly.