this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024
421 points (95.7% liked)

Showerthoughts

29786 readers
313 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
quinten@lemmy.world
vatlark@lemmy.world
forkball@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world
421
I hear phrases like "half-past", "quarter til", and "quarter after" way less often since digital clocks have became more commonplace. (midwest.social)
submitted 8 months ago by GiuseppeAndTheYeti@midwest.social to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
169 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Zozano@lemy.lol 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

It is objectively wrong to say 14 o'clock, because "o'clock" refers to the orientation of an analogue clock.

Saying "it's nine in the morning" is redundant in a 24 hour system, because nine would never be anything other than that.

To say 'it's nine hundred" reduces the ambiguity slightly (because you can't really say o'clock).

If you simply say "it's nine" then other people might ask "what's nine?"

Is it "nine past nine"? Or are you telling me "no" in German?

Nine hundred is pretty clear, but not to our primitive ears