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AM Full Form- Ante Meridiem

Updated on 07 February, 2024

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad abroad Editorial Team

What is AM? The full form of AM is Ante Meridiem. There are three units of time: hours, minutes, and seconds. There are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute. For instance, 8:20 denotes eight hours and twenty minutes. There are two methods to show time. One method uses a 24-hour clock, while the other uses an AM-PM clock. 

'AM' is an acronym for Ante Meridiem, which denotes the period of time between midnight and 11:59 in the morning, or the moment before the meridian line crosses the Sun. Post-Meridiem, or PM for short, is the period of time after midday and 11.59 at night, when the meridian line has passed the Sun.

The 12-hour clock technique uses the digits 1 through 12 to represent each of the 24 hours of the day, followed by am or pm. One AM is one hour after midnight, and eleven PM is one hour before midnight. Five AM is early in the morning, and five PM is late in the afternoon. 

A 24-hour clock may be created by deducting 12 hours from the specified hour of the day (midnight to 12:59 a.m.) on an AM-PM clock. By adding 12 hours from the first hour of the day (0:00 / midnight to 0:59) and AM to the time, we may convert a 24-hour clock to an AM-PM clock.

Historic Importance of AM and PM

The practice of using AM may be traced back to ancient Roman times when the day was split into 24 equal halves, referred to as "horas." The first hour of the day was designated as AM, denoting the period from midnight until midday. This custom has endured for generations and has become a widely accepted worldwide method of measuring time.

Similar to AM, PM may also be traced back to the ancient Roman system of timekeeping. The separation of the day into 24 hours facilitated the establishment of a distinct boundary between morning and afternoon, which aided in a number of societal activities such as civic affairs, non-secular behaviors, and trade.

Creation of AM and PM

Time, an omnipresent aspect of human existence, is divided into several units and conventions to help us plan our daily activities. The terms AM and PM hold great significance among those norms since they distinguish between the two parts of a 24-hour day. We shall examine the origins of AM and PM and shed light on their practical packages as we go into their full ranges in this chapter.

Benefits of AM and PM

Here is a discussion of the advantages of AM and PM's:

  • Clarity and Precision: Whether a given time pertains to the morning, afternoon, or midnight hours may be determined with clarity and precision by using AM and PM. This facilitates clear communication and ensures precise scheduling and communication. For example, ‘if I say I'll be there at 8’, it's unclear if I'm coming in the morning or the evening. The 12-hour clock uses the AM and PM systems to avoid this uncertainty.
  • Internationally recognized: AM and PM have been widely accepted as the universal timekeeping standards. This allows for uniformity and ease of use of knowledge throughout distinct areas and civilizations.
  • Time control: By enabling people to discern between noteworthy times of the day, the AM and PM designations support effective time management. It facilitates the process of planning and scheduling daily events, activities, and appointments.
  • Transit and Business: AM and PM are essential to the smooth running of several businesses, public transit networks, and initial public offerings. By using those identifiers, timetables, schedules, and other time-sensitive facts may be communicated more effectively.

upGrad Abroad Team

upGrad abroad Editorial Team

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