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In documents presented in both official languages, and in all forms of international communication, it may be desirable to use the 24-hour system for representing time of day, in accordance with International Standard ISO 3307 and the Treasury Board Federal Identity Program Manual.
The hour is represented by a two-digit number ranging from 00 up to 23 (or 24), the minute and second are represented by a two-digit number ranging from 00 up to 59, and the colon is used as a separator between hour and minute and between minute and second, as illustrated:
with seconds | without seconds |
---|---|
00:15:00 | 00:15 |
08:00:00 | 08:00 |
12:00:00 | 12:00 (noon) |
24:00:00 | 24:00 (midnight) |
07:15:00 | 07:15 |
11:37:00 | 11:37 |
14:12:26 | 14:12 |
The instant of midnight should be represented (when seconds are included) as either 24:00:00, the end of one day, or 00:00:00, the beginning of the next day, according to circumstances.
For calendar dates, the common alphanumeric method remains acceptable, provided that cardinal numbers are used:
not
When the day and month only are given, cardinal or ordinal forms may be used:
Note also the usage
not
For the use of the comma in dates, see 7.20 Dates, geographical names and addresses.
The all-numeric form of dating may be more appropriate for such purposes as office memorandums and chronological files and on documents such as certificates, forms and plaques that are presented in both official languages. The format prescribed below is in accordance with the Treasury Board Federal Identity Program Manual, National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA-Z234.4-87 and International Standard ISO 2014. The year, month and day should be separated by a space or hyphen, as illustrated:
The advantage of international standardization in this format is that, whereas 2/06/95 could mean either June 2, 1995 or February 6, 1995, the form 1995-06-02 can mean only the former.
Dates are sometimes spelled out in cases such as the following:
Dates are spelled out in legal texts and in formal invitations and announcements:
Year designations take the following forms:
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