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.

  • gerryflap@feddit.nl
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    1 year ago

    I’m Dutch. Usually we just say something like “2 in the afternoon” instead of 14:00 or 2 PM. But digital clocks and writing etc will use 24 hours. Every now and then people will use it though, saying 14:30 as “fourteen hours thirty”, but that’s quite rare and sounds a bit formal (or goofy).

    • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      In France, people commonly use the 24h format. Any time given in a formal setting (given on TV, opening hours for a business, etc.) will be in 24h format. Some people still use 12h though.