Where are my wording etiquette experts???

Where are my wording etiquette experts???

What is the proper way to say 3:30 pm?

Is it:

three-thirty in the afternoon

half after three o'clock

half past three o'clock

OR

Do you leave out the o'clock? add the afternoon?

I'm confused!!!!

Re: Where are my wording etiquette experts???

You leave out 'o'clock' since that referes to the 'on the dot' mark (when the large hand is on the 12). It should be half past three in the afternoon.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/o'clock

1. Of or according to the clock: three o'clock.

2. According to an imaginary clock dial with the observer at the center and 12 o'clock considered as straight ahead in horizontal position or straight up in vertical position. Used to indicate relative position: enemy planes at 10 o'clock.

Re: Where are my wording etiquette experts???

'half after three' or 'half past three'

Re: Where are my wording etiquette experts???

My invitation people told me to put eleven-thirty because half past eleven is really old fashioned and people dont talk that way- so being the modern bride i am- I put eleven thirty in the morning.

Re: Where are my wording etiquette experts???

We just went last night for our invitations and we have a very traditionally worded invitation, so she said we should put half after three in the afternoon.