Date:         Wed, 20 Mar 2002 15:32:30 +0100
Reply-To:     F a b r i z i o <Fabrizio1@USA.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         F a b r i z i o <Fabrizio1@USA.NET>
Organization: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Subject:      Re: is 12:00 AM noon or midnight ?

Peter Crawford wrote in message ...
>
>When was any AM/PM standard for noon and midnight introduced ?
>

Basic rule:

Since any time starting like 12:nn during the night, is called AM, the
associated hour value of 12:00 midnight is also called AM or ANTE MERIDIEM
(Before noon).

Since any time starting like 12:nn during the day, is called PM, the
associated hour value of 12:00 noon is also called PM or POST MERIDIEM
(After noon; literally, 12:00 PM therefore is a tail biter)

Wether this is a historical decision or just common sense, I'm not sure. I
was taught this somewhere back in the sixties.


HTH?

Brgds; Fabrizio