What do AM and PM mean, and why are they easy to mix up?

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  1. AM and PM come from Latin:

    AM = Ante Meridiem = before noon

    PM = Post Meridiem = after noon

    So:

    AM covers midnight (12:00 AM) to just before noon (11:59 AM).

    PM covers noon (12:00 PM) to just before midnight (11:59 PM).

    Why people mix them up:
    Midnight and Noon Confusion:

    12:00 AM is midnight, but it feels weird to call midnight “ante meridiem” (before noon).

    12:00 PM is noon, but it’s the exact middle of the day, not really “after noon.”
    This makes the 12 o’clock times tricky.

    Unfamiliar Latin terms: Most people don’t know the Latin origins, so AM and PM can feel arbitrary.

    Switching Context: People often think “AM” means morning and “PM” means afternoon/evening, but the transition points (12:00) cause confusion.

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