3 pm

USAGE SUMMARY

'3 pm' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when writing about a specific time (e.g. "The meeting will start at 3 pm").

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Tomorrow at 3 pm.

The New York Times

Sunday, 10 am - 3 pm.

Harvard University

Symphony Hall, Oct. 13, 3 pm.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Game scheduled to start at 3 PM.

Harvard University

Saturday, 3 PM Event, The Incredible Machine!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Due to the UAO by 3 pm.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Control Voltage: July 6, 3 pm-12 am.

Huffington Post

Friends may call 1-3 PM.

The New York Times

Memorial May 31, at Community Church, 40 East 35 St, Manhattan, 1-3 PM.

The New York Times

1-3 PM: Vale Pool with Lunch.

Forbes

Location: 30 Main St, Hanover NH 03755 Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 6 am-3 pm, Sat-Sun: 7 am-3 pm.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider using "3:00 p.m." instead of "3 pm" for clarity and a more professional tone.

Common error

Ensure you correctly specify "am" or "pm" to avoid ambiguity. If there's any chance of confusion, rephrase to provide more clarity, such as "3 in the afternoon".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "3 pm" functions primarily as an adverbial of time, specifying when an event occurs. It modifies verbs and provides precise timing within a sentence, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

30%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "3 pm" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase for indicating a specific time in the afternoon. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is to specify the time of an event, serving the purpose of informing or scheduling. While suitable for most contexts, formal writing might benefit from using "3:00 p.m.". The phrase is particularly common in news, academic, and scientific sources. For alternative phrasing, consider "three in the afternoon" or the military time equivalent, "15:00 hours". Remember to correctly distinguish between "am" and "pm" to avoid potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

three pm

Removes the space for a slightly more compact representation.

15:00 hours

Uses military time for a more formal or technical context.

3:00 p.m.

Adds zeros and periods for a more formal written style.

three in the afternoon

Expands the abbreviation for clarity, suitable for general conversation.

15:00

Numerical representation in 24-hour format.

1500

A shorthand version of military time, often used in digital contexts.

around 3 pm

Indicates an approximate time, allowing for slight variations.

shortly after 3 pm

Suggests a time slightly later than the specified hour.

mid-afternoon

Describes the general time frame instead of a precise hour.

the 3 pm hour

Emphasizes the specific hour block.

FAQs

How do I properly format "3 pm" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it's best to use "3:00 p.m." This format adds clarity and maintains a professional tone. Also be consistent with the formatting, choose one and stick to that.

What are some alternatives to saying "3 pm"?

You can use alternatives like "three in the afternoon", "mid-afternoon", or "15:00 hours" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "3 pm in the afternoon"?

While technically redundant, saying "3 pm in the afternoon" isn't grammatically incorrect, but it's unnecessary. "3 pm" already implies that it's in the afternoon. You can also say "three in the afternoon" for clarity.

How does "3 pm" differ from "15:00"?

"3 pm" is the standard way to denote time in a 12-hour clock format, whereas "15:00" represents the same time in a 24-hour clock format, commonly used in military and technical contexts.