Why is it that Americans refer to 24 hour time as military time? I understand that the military uses the 24hr format but I don’t understand why the general public would refer to it like that?

It makes it seem like it’s a foreign concept where as in a lot of countries it’s the norm.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You’re not supposed to say “we meet at fifteen thirty”, you just say half past three or, in non-English languages sometimes “three in the afternoon”.

Uh, why not? Absolutely you can say "half past 15 hours", and plenty of places do.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago

    I have all my clocks and watches set to 24h like a normal person and I've never heard a human being say that out loud or said it myself.

    Outside of American movies featuring the military, I suppose, which answers the OP's question.

  • source
  • parent