utc

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utc" is correct and usable in written English, particularly in contexts related to timekeeping.
It can be used when referring to Coordinated Universal Time, which is the time standard used worldwide. Example: "The meeting is scheduled for 15:00 UTC, so please adjust your local time accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The unit of UTC is the atomic second, and UTC is widely broadcast by radio signals.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The European Commission was no doubt helped by the fact that, by the time its investigation was under way in March, GE/Honeywell's competitors, notably UTC and a fellow American company, Rockwell Collins, had woken up and mustered strong arguments against the deal.

The Economist

With Mars Express, the European Space Agency's craft, also passing close to Phobos in 2011, all this interest in a previously obscure moon will lead to speculation about human missions there.A high point will come on March 18th at 12.45am UTC (Co-ordinated Universal Time), when NASA's Messenger spacecraft will insert itself into orbit around the planet Mercury.

The Economist

But there is little doubt that Honeywell is in worse shape than if it had taken the less ambitious option of merging with UTC.

The Economist

Around 30 construction executives are now awaiting trial on charges of corruption or money-laundering, including the boss of UTC Engenharia, Brazil's seventh-biggest builder.

The Economist

This week it emerged that C.R. Almeida, a second-tier construction firm, is eyeing stakes in airport projects, including some still under construction, owned by UTC Engenharia and OAS.So far, foreign construction giants are not rushing in to fill the void left by collapsing domestic ones.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation Melanoma Research; 12902 Magnolia Drive, UTC-FOND, Tampa, FL, 33612.

The New York Times

UTC@harbourside is part of a drive that will see the number of UTCs increase by 11 to 37, including at sites in Bolton, Derby, Medway, Oxfordshire, Salford, Scunthorpe, South Devon, South Wiltshire and the West Midlands.

Independent

And so, in 2008, the port authority helped to orchestrate a $10.6m deal with Connecticut's UTC Power to provide nine fuel cells to supply power to three main towers, including One World Trade.

The Guardian

He postponed his retirement by eight months as a condition for winning Honeywell's approval of his last-minute trumping of a bid from United Technologies UTCC), another American electronics and engineering group.

The Economist

Some big suppliers to the armed forces, such as Boeing and UTC the owner of Pratt & Whitney, a maker of aero-engines already haero-engines alreadylian sides (see chave 2).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for international audiences or in technical contexts, use "utc" to ensure clarity and avoid ambiguity related to local time zones or daylight saving time. Always specify "utc" instead of "gmt", as "utc" is the modern standard.

Common error

Avoid assuming your audience knows the "utc" offset for their location. Always provide the "utc" time directly or offer a time zone converter tool for convenience.

Linguistic Context

Utc functions primarily as an initialism, representing Coordinated Universal Time. It standardizes timekeeping across different regions. Ludwig confirms that this abbreviation is prevalent and understood in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Utc, short for Coordinated Universal Time, serves as the international standard for civil and scientific time. As highlighted by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it's very commonly used, especially in encyclopedias and news media. To ensure clarity in global communications, use "utc" over local times, and remember that while similar to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), "utc" relies on atomic clocks for greater precision. Common mistakes include failing to account for "utc" offsets, which can be avoided by providing direct "utc" times or timezone converters. For alternatives, consider using "coordinated universal time" or "Greenwich mean time" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Coordinated universal time

Full form of the initialism, providing clarity.

Universal time coordinated

A reordering of the acronym's expansion.

Time at utc

Short form to refer to a moment in time at utc.

Current time in coordinated universal time

Explicitly states the time standard.

Greenwich mean time

A historical equivalent, though technically distinct.

Zulu time

Military and aviation term for the same time zone.

Current time in gmt

Using Greenwich mean time in place of coordinated universal time.

International atomic time

Related atomic timescale, but not civil time.

Global standard time

A general term for time used across the world.

University technical college

An alternative meaning of the acronym related to education.

FAQs

What does "utc" stand for?

"Utc" stands for Coordinated Universal Time, the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time.

How does "utc" relate to Greenwich Mean Time (gmt)?

"Utc" is closely related to Greenwich Mean Time (gmt), but "utc" is based on atomic clocks, making it more precise. Gmt is based on the Earth's rotation.

How do I convert local time to "utc"?

To convert local time to "utc", you need to know the "utc" offset for your time zone. You can use online time zone converters to easily find the "utc" equivalent.

When should I use "utc" instead of local time?

Use "utc" when communicating internationally or in technical contexts to avoid confusion caused by different time zones and daylight saving time. For instance, scheduling a meeting with team members in different time zones may require to indicate time in "utc".