When it comes to listing times in Bellevue College communications, consistency and readability are key. Here’s a quick guide to help you format the time of day correctly according to the Bellevue College style guide.
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A Quick Guide to Formatting Time of Day
When it comes to listing times in Bellevue College communications, consistency and readability are key. Here’s a quick guide to help you format time of day correctly according to the Bellevue College style guide.
Use Capitalized AM and PM—Without Periods
When referencing specific times, always capitalize “AM” and “PM” without including periods. This helps keep things clear and concise. For example:
- Correct: 3 PM
- Incorrect: 3 p.m.
Avoid Using AM or PM at the End of a Sentence
To improve flow and readability, try not to end a sentence with AM or PM. Instead, include the date and location to complete the information in a single, straightforward sentence. This format not only sounds polished but also provides all necessary details at once:
- Example: “The event will take place at 2 PM on Sept. 15 in the C Building.”
Time Ranges: Use a Hyphen or ‘to’
When specifying a time range, you have two options:
- With a hyphen: 5–7 PM
- With ‘to’: 6 AM to 7 PM
Both options are acceptable, so choose based on what reads best in the context.
Use Noon and Midnight (Not 12 PM or 12 AM)
To avoid any potential confusion, use lowercase “noon” and “midnight” instead of “12 PM” or “12 AM.” This provides a clearer and more accessible way for readers to know exactly what time you mean.
- Correct: noon, midnight
- Incorrect: 12 PM, 12 AM
Drop the “:00” for On-the-Hour Times
There’s no need to add “:00” when listing an exact hour. Just list the number and AM or PM.
- Correct: 5 AM
- Incorrect: 5:00 AM
Recap
For Bellevue College communications, remember to:
- Capitalize AM and PM without periods.
- Avoid ending sentences with AM or PM when possible.
- Use a hyphen or “to” in time ranges.
- Use “noon” and “midnight” instead of “12 PM” or “12 AM.”
- Drop the “:00” for times on the hour.
Following these simple guidelines will keep your communications clear and consistent.
About the Bellevue College Style Guide
Bellevue College has recently updated its editorial standards, ensuring consistency and clarity in all written communications across campus. These guidelines are essential for maintaining a unified voice, making our communications easier to understand, and reflecting professionalism in all publications, whether it’s a campus-wide announcement, a department newsletter, or social media content.
Following a consistent style ensures that our readers—students, faculty, staff, and the wider community—receive clear, accessible information. Bellevue College primarily follows the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, with some customizations to meet our specific needs.
Through this blog series, we’ll dive into various components of the style guide, helping writers and editors across campus understand how to apply these standards effectively in their work.
The complete style guide can be found on the Bellevue College website.
Last Updated November 13, 2024