Time Abbreviations

Abbreviations help save time and space when writing. They’re especially common when writing about dates, times, schedules, calendars, and appointments. Let’s learn and practice common abbreviations related to time in English.

Time Abbreviations

Daily Time Abbreviations

The most common abbreviation related to daily time involves the hours before and after noon:

• a.m. – refers to the hours before noon (Ante Meridiem).
• p.m. – refers to the hours after noon (Post Meridiem).

Examples:

• The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
• Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m.

Days of the Week Abbreviations

Days can be abbreviated into shorter forms:

Examples:

• Our class begins on Mon.
• My favorite TV show airs every Thurs. night.

Months of the Year Abbreviations

Each month except May has a commonly used short form:

Examples:

• His birthday is on Jan. 18.
• Our vacation starts on Oct. 12.

General Time Measurement Abbreviations

Some abbreviations indicate the measure or duration of time units. They are very useful in daily writing:

• sec. – second(s)
  Example: Wait 20 sec. before turning it off.
• min. – minute(s)
  Example: Bake in the oven for 15 min.
• hr. / hrs. – hour/hours
  Example: The journey lasted 2 hrs.
• wk. / wks. – week/weeks
  Example: She will be away for 3 wks.
• mo. / mos. – month/months
  Example: This course lasts around 6 mos.
• yr. / yrs. – year/years
  Example: He has worked as a teacher for 5 yrs.

Other Common Related Abbreviations

• ETA – estimated time of arrival
  Example: What’s your ETA?
• GMT – Greenwich Mean Time (time zone)
  Example: London uses GMT in winter.
• CET – Central European Time
  Example: This broadcast starts at 9 p.m. CET.

Tips for Using Time Abbreviations Correctly

• Always add a period after abbreviations: min., hrs., Oct., Mon.
• Keep consistency. If you use one abbreviation style, continue using it throughout your work for clarity.
• Use lowercase letters for “a.m.” and “p.m.” to match common usage.