How to write "Time"
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I'd also go with "three in the morning". It reads smoothly and doesn't jolt me out of the narrative the way 3 AM would if I read it in a novel.
Depending on how your POV character would usually speak, "in the morning" or a.m. (no capitals, periods after each letter.)
It doesn't matter how you write it so long as you write all other times in the same way.
Unless it's speech, then you just write it however your character says it.
Like in the text you might write times as: 6:45am, or six forty-five am, yet in speech a character may say, "a quarter to seven", all that's fine, what you don't do is write it as "1/4 to seven" which is a mixture of 2 conventions.
Then when your MSS is accepted for publication an editor my ask for all times to be in figures no matter what - well, they are paying you, so as long as it's not distorting a clue, I'd say okay.
Unless it's speech, then you just write it however your character says it.
Like in the text you might write times as: 6:45am, or six forty-five am, yet in speech a character may say, "a quarter to seven", all that's fine, what you don't do is write it as "1/4 to seven" which is a mixture of 2 conventions.
Then when your MSS is accepted for publication an editor my ask for all times to be in figures no matter what - well, they are paying you, so as long as it's not distorting a clue, I'd say okay.
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It's a style book thing.
In fiction, I tend to use five-thirty and quarter to six, but in some stories, where time is used precisely, 5:30 and 5:45 are used. Military is 1730 and 1745. I think it's important to use the same format throughout a story.
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I think it depends on context as well.
If it's your narrator (i.e., first person or close third person) talking, then I'd write it the way they would say it.
If it's in dialogue, then I'd write it the way the speaker would say it.
I think it depends on the voice of the piece and it could be a character quirk, so I'm not sure there's a right or a wrong way to do it.
If it's your narrator (i.e., first person or close third person) talking, then I'd write it the way they would say it.
If it's in dialogue, then I'd write it the way the speaker would say it.
I think it depends on the voice of the piece and it could be a character quirk, so I'm not sure there's a right or a wrong way to do it.
Three in the morning
"Three in the morning"
It was three in the morning when I slayed the dragon.
If you're writing a journal, then: 3:00 AM for the header
But otherwise, avoid "o'clock" and other.
If military, use "O' one hundred hours"
"Three in the morning"
It was three in the morning when I slayed the dragon.
If you're writing a journal, then: 3:00 AM for the header
But otherwise, avoid "o'clock" and other.
If military, use "O' one hundred hours"
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I would only write 3am or 3:00am if the character is looking at a digital clock.
Tom looked at his bedside table and the clock flashed 3:00am at him in glowing blue numbers.
Otherwise, it should be three o'clock in the morning. Like this:
"What time did you get up today, Tom?"
"Three o'clock in the morning."
But, technically, you could write 3am/or 3:00am in that example. It would be acceptable but it really should be written as three o'clock. It's a bendable rule though. Don't stress about it. In the end it matters very little. Either is fine really.
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