I write this blog post to help you understand certain rules followed by publishers of books. You need to know the rules in case you want to break them. Our source is the bible of the publishing industry, The Chicago Manual of Style, Sixteenth Edition.
Beloved bloggers: Carry on as you were. It I understand your post, then it's fine.
He asked, "What time is it?"
She replied, "Look at the damn clock if you wanna know."
Let's try again. Maybe she won't be as cranky the second time around.
She replied, "It's four-twelve a.m. and don't wake me up again, you f&*#@!."
What did I do wrong? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?
Ferris is absent––again––so I'll answer the question myself (note the correct use of myself).
Chicago wants us to use numerals with a.m. or p.m., and yes, Chicago prefers lowercase for a.m. and p.m. Therefore, her answer should be, "It's 4:12 a.m. and . . . " I'm sure you get the idea except this time she changes up the profanity. What do you think she calls him?
It's especially important to use numerals with a.m. or p.m. when you need an exact time: My plane leaves at 4:22 a.m.
However, Chicago prefers that you spell out the number if you're writing about the time of day on the hour, half hour, or quarter hour. If you use "o'clock," always spell out the number.
It's five o'clock. I am so f*&^%$! ready to go home, but I won't get out of here until at least a quarter to eight or maybe even nine thirty.
Wow! Makes me glad I don't have a job.
Chicago does not like numbers if it's noon or midnight. Chicago likes noon or midnight.
Get it? Got it? Good!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Hey guess what I get this, now that you have picked yourself off the floor after fainting because I know something I will tell you right now it is 3.55 pm
ReplyDeleteNow it's 6:33 p.m., and I didn't have to pick myself up off the floor because I only faint when I stand too long or get up too quickly.
DeleteI don't think I ever truly understood the rules of publishing, but I know I broke a few such as this one. I can handle writing four a.m. in a novel (written as 4 AM on my blog) but writing four thirty a.m. (or is it four-thirty a.m. ?) gets my OCD up and distracts me from finishing the paragraph.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that sign at the end is perfect. (And I still cant find a 'join this site' button for my blog. :/ )
I don't see your email address on your blog, but if you'll send it to me at dumpedfirstwife@gmail.com, I'll send you instructions for the followers button. Or I can put them on my blog or in a comment, but an email might be easier.
DeleteVery informative! I do this instinctively. I don't remember being taught it but perhaps I was. My 8th grade English teacher was an amazingly thorough teacher.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a thorough English teacher until I was in college. I love you, Dr. C.
DeleteThose are good tips. I wonder if I've broken that rule about using words with a.m. or p.m. Possibly. (That billboard is hilarious.)
ReplyDeleteA friend sent me the "Friends of Irony" photos. I love them.
DeleteI love tip Tuesday!! It really does help.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really like the pic at the bottom!!!!
I like you!
DeleteI've wondered about about caps or lower case for a.m. or P.M. and I'm glad you clarified this.
ReplyDeleteIt's 10:15 a.m. in Fargo, North Dakota. Or should I say it is quarter after ten o'clock in the morning? I'm with you--as long as I understand what people are trying to say, it's fine with me. ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you were writing a book, you might want to say it's quarter past ten in the morning. But you're writing a blog comment, so you should write whatever you like as long as you don't come up with some obscene name for me.
Delete"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." Albert Einstein
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dr. Ducky.
DeleteI think I got it. Now I have to try and remember it, as well.
ReplyDeleteHe thinks he's got it. By George, he thinks he's got it. The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plains. Or is it in the plains?
DeleteIt's in the plains.
DeleteI love it when someone says something like "It's 4 a.m. in the morning." :)
ReplyDeleteA nurse at the nursing home always wrote twelve noon, which made the rest of us want to tuck her in bed and smother her with a pillow--the same way we handled annoying patients.
DeleteAt least it's clear that 12:00 a.m. is not 12:00 am ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's midnight.
DeleteChicago? CHICAGO!?! AP Style 'till I die! (I don't really have a preference.) Seriously, though, why Chicago over AP?
ReplyDeleteHow the hell would I know? I don't make the rules, pickle dad.
Delete