a.m.(有时作A.M.)
1.a.m.=拉丁语ante meridiem,作“在上午”解(“在下午”是p.m.),用了它便不该再用morning。如不可说10.45 a.m. in the morning或tomorrow morning at 10.45 a.m.,该说10.45 a.m.(上午10点45分)和tomorrow at 10.45 a.m.。10.45是英国拼写形式,10:45是美国拼写形式。
2.用了a.m.便不该再用o'clock,如不可说10 o'clock a.m.,该说10 a.m.。也不可说half past eight a.m.,(a) quarter to nine a.m.等。通常a.m.前面用数字表示时刻,不用文字,如通常用7.16 a.m.不用seven-sixteen a.m.。
3.不该不说出钟点而用a.m.,如不可说tomorrow a.m.或on the 14th a.m.,该说tomorrow morning和on the morning of the 14th。
4.正午12点钟也算a.m.,写作12 a.m.或12.00 a.m.。但也有人写作12 noon或12.00 m.。m=拉丁语meridiem,正午。