Understanding Military Time: Can 5 PM Be 17 O’Clock?

When it comes to expressing time, especially in professional and military settings, the 24-hour clock system or military time is widely used. This system can sometimes confuse regular timekeeping methods, such as saying 5 PM as “17 o’clock.” Let's clarify whether it’s correct to say “17 o’clock” for 5 PM and explore the nuances of the 24-hour clock.

The 24-Hour Clock System

In the 24-hour clock system, the time of day is expressed as a 24-hour period, starting from midnight and ending at the same point 24 hours later. This system uses the format of HH:MM (hours and minutes) instead of using PM and AM. The hours range from 00:00 to 23:59.

For example, 5 PM is represented as 17:00 in the 24-hour clock system. Here’s a brief conversion chart for common time expressions:

Common Time Expressions and Their 24-Hour Equivalents

12:00 AM 00:00 12:00 PM 12:00 1 PM 13:00 5 PM 17:00

Is it Correct to Say “17 O’clock”?

While the 24-hour clock format uses “17:00” to represent 5 PM, it is generally not standard to say “17 o’clock” when referring to the time in this format. The term “o’clock” is normally used in 12-hour timekeeping. However, in the context of the 24-hour clock, you would say “1700 hours” or just “17:00” without “o’clock.”

Why Is 17:00 Called “Hundred Hours”? The term “hundred hours” is used instead of “o’clock” because the 24-hour clock does not strictly follow the standard timekeeping rules that involve the word “o’clock.” This is a convention to clearly differentiate between the 12-hour clock system and the 24-hour format.

Common Expressions for 5 PM

There are several ways to express the time of 5 PM, such as:

5:00 PM - This is the most common way to express 5 PM in a standard 12-hour clock format. 5 o'clock in the afternoon - This phrase clearly indicates the time in the afternoon. 17:00 - This is the exact time in the 24-hour clock format. 1700 hours - This is another way to express 5 PM in the 24-hour format, commonly found in military or formal settings.

Confusion Between 24-Hour Time and 12-Hour Time

It is important to note that not everyone uses the 24-hour clock system. Those who are accustomed to the 24-hour system may not understand the use of “o’clock” in the context of the 24-hour format. Conversely, those who use 12-hour timekeeping may find it confusing to express time in the military format without “o’clock.” This highlights the need for clarity and context when communicating time.

Overall, while 5 PM can certainly be represented as 17:00 in the 24-hour clock system, saying “17 o’clock” is not correct. For clarity, it is best to use terms like “1700 hours” or simply “17:00” to avoid any confusion.