Photo credit: DoctorWhoTV

It’s time to talk about time! As much as I wish we had an office TARDIS (that blue box in the picture) for this journey, I’ll have to rely on the written word instead of a field trip. This is a Doctor Who reference, by the way. I encourage you to look it up.

Morning, Afternoon and Night

Time should be written using Arabic numerals as well as the appropriate time zone for all agendas, events and deadlines.

Although abbreviations are often written in uppercase capitalization, this isn’t the case for ante meridiem (before midday) and post meridiem (past midday). Use a.m. and p.m.

If you do not need to list minutes, provide the hour, before midday/past midday marker and time zone.

Correct: 5 a.m. (EDT)*

Spell out the name of time zones in lowercase capitalization for general references; however, do use uppercase capitalization for Newfoundland, Atlantic and Pacific times.

Example: All times in the 2019 LABCON** agenda are listed in Atlantic daylight time.

Example: The time zone in Winnipeg is central daylight time.

*Use eastern daylight time (EDT) in the spring and summer months while observing daylight saving time. Use eastern standard time (EST) in the autumn and winter months.

**The 24-hour clock is used for LABCON; for example, 1530 would be used instead of 3:30 p.m.

Seasons

All seasons should be written out in lowercase capitalization, even if you are referring to an issue of the CJMLS. It’s appropriate to say:

The scheduled mail out date for the summer issue of the CJMLS is late June. Please note, dates related to the journal are subject to change.