Do you know the definition of PM? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation PM, including its definition, usage, and more!
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According to the Translation Bureau of Canada, the acronym PM stands for the Latin post meridiem, which means after midday. This is in opposition to AM, or ante meridiem, meaning before midday. These are usually written in lowercase with a period, i.e a.m. and p.m., but can also be written in uppercase with no periods. You should not use AM or PM with with the expression o’clock or with the words morning, afternoon, evening or night. Only use AM and PM when using a 12-hour clock. They are unnecessary and incorrect when the 24-hour clock or military time in the United Stateswhich also uses 24-hour format is used. Though there are 24 hours of the day, most people use the 12-hour system.
For example, say you pay a shop visit to a mechanic to get a time estimate on your car. If you have consistent inspections and mind safety when it comes to mechanical decisions, you can leave your car in the hands of the technicians. Shop management or the technician might say that with ordering the components, a piece of equipment and labor, they can have it done by seven on Friday. In this context, they would need to specify that they mean 7PM so there is no lack of understanding and you don’t show up at 7AM instead. Inspections and work are personal choices and require lengthy decision-making, so you might request it done by the next PM instead. Good luck!
PM can also stand for private message. This is an abbreviation term and shorthand that are used on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter that have messaging options. You can use the website’s chat application by typing in a friend’s name and sending the transmission of a message. If there is a green dot, it probably means they are online in their downtime or availability. The recipient will get a notification when they receive a message.
According to The Free Dictionary, the abbreviation PM can stand for much more than just post meridiem or private message. This abbreviation has a plethora of other potential definitions. While these are still valid different meanings, they are less common, and should therefore be used sparingly. If you do decide to use one of these alternate meanings for the acronym PM, make sure that you provide the reader with the appropriate context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning and avoid confusion.
Prime Minister
Personal Message (IRC)
Particulate Matter
Postmaster
Postmortem
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (ISO country code, top level domain name, ccTLD)
Postmistress
Past Master
Provost Marshal
Police Magistrate
Pour Memoir (French: For Memory; response to RSVP)
Panama
Power Management
Per Month
PERL Module
Project Management
Project Manager
Pain Management
Price Match
Plus Minus (hockey goals scored while player on/off ice)
Philippine Marine (indigenous Marine in the Philippines)
Person Months (work measurement)
Pitchfork Media
Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (religious order)
Peoplemover
People Meter
Provost Marshall (US DoD)
Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (US DoD)
Preventative Maintenance Service/Preventative Maintenance Technology/Preventive Maintenance Process (determined repair choices and replacement parts at lowest cost during act of inspection)
Presentation Manager (OS/2)
PartitionMagic (PowerQuest)
Peso Mexicano (Mexican Peso)
Peritoneal Metastasis
Privilege Management (IT, middleware; networking)
Plan B
Potential Life of Tires (determines necessary repairs or necessity of the repair of equipment, e.g. max life)
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.