subject: Should I Use AM and PM on My Invitations? [print this page] Should I Use AM and PM on My Invitations?
How should you write the time in the wording on your invitation?
Here are a few things to consider:
Could the time on your invitation be confusing? If your party starts at 4p.m., the "p.m." is not needed. Only a crazy person would start a party at 4 a.m. (and if you do start a party at 4 a.m., please put the "a.m." on your invitation).
If the party starts at 9 p.m. and it is a breakfast party, then please use the P.M. designation. You don't want people showing up in their pajamas at 9 a.m. for your pancake fiesta.
Are you having a formal celebration? (wedding, shower, rehearsal,) Don't use A.M. or P.M. Don't use these abbreviations. And state 1/2 hour starting times as "half past" for instance, if the wedding starts at 4:30 p.m., your wedding invitation should say "half past four o'clock". Correct formal invitations don't even use numerals proper formal invitations spell out the time using words instead of digits (use "six", not "6"). If there is any doubt about whether the time is in the morning or the evening, use the words "in the morning" and "in the evening"
Does the party start or end at 12:00? Use "noon" or "midnight" so that your guests will not be confused. In the United States, 12 noon is usually written 12:00 p.m., and 12 midnight is written as 12:00 a.m., but noon and midnight leave no room for confusion.
Is your celebration informal? Sure, use A.M. or P.M. if you want.
Is this a military celebration? Use military time. Can't remember how to convert to military time? If the time is after noon, add 12 to it. For example, 9 p.m. is 21:00 in military time (9 plus 12). 11:00 p.m. Is 23:00 (11 plus 12). Midnight is 24:00. Start over at 00:00 after midnight. A party starting at 12:30 a.m. (half an hour after midnight) starts at 00:30 using a 24 hour clock.
If you've decided to use A.M. or P.M. on your invitations, the experts say to use both the letters and the periods (a.m. and p.m.). But at Poly Graphics we will print your invitations any way you would like them. Part of learning and knowing the rules is to know when they can be broken. It is perfectly acceptable to use just the letters with no periods if you like them that way.
