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Re: 24-hour clock

Subject: Re: 24-hour clock
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 06:49:17 -0500

Many American contracts and laws (and possibly British as well, but I don't know) specify 12:01 AM on a given date as a beginning or ending point for just this reason. With software that's problematic, because on computers the day ticks over pretty much right on the dot of midnight (give or take a nanosecond or so). Nonetheless, I've never seen 0:00 used to represent a clock time. I'd suggest Sunday 24h00 to Sunday 24h00. (Based on responses to a recent question I posted, I think 24h00 is preferred in civilian usage to 24:00 or 2400).

CHAI-ELSHOLZ Raeleen wrote:

Hello. I'm a tech writer being used to translate software manuals from
French into English.

The text I'm working on now explains that a "week" extends from Monday at
0:00 to Sunday midnight.

For me, that means the week goes from Monday 0:00 to Monday 0:00, but this
raised some mocking objections. The French says Monday 0:00 to Sunday 24:00.
Where did this extra hour come from? It SEEMS clear to say "Sunday 24:00",
but FEELS like bad math!

Can anyone tell me whether it is standard usage - in English - to have two
names for midnight (i.e. 0:00 of the following day AND 24:00 of the
preceding day)?
All of you other English speakers, how would you do the numbers for this?
Unfortunately, they don't want me to use the word "midnight", which would
have solved the problem.





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References:
24-hour clock: From: CHAI-ELSHOLZ Raeleen

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