## [Standard time, daylight saving time](/writing-tips-plus/daylight-saving-time-daylight-time-standard-time-summer-time) ## Avertissement Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement. ## On this page - [Standard time](#standard-time) - [Daylight saving time](#daylight-saving-time) - [Other names for daylight saving time](#other-names) - [“Daylight Time” in names of time zones](#names-of-time-zones) - [Omission of “Standard” and “Daylight”](#omission) - [Capitalization](#capitalization) - [Additional information](#additional-information) ## Standard time **Standard time** is the name for the officially established time prevailing in most of North America from early November to mid-March. - Saskatchewan stays on standard time all year. ## Daylight saving time Daylight saving is the practice of turning the clocks forward one hour to take advantage of the longer days. - Because the sun rises earlier in summer, daylight saving helps extend the day. Daylight saving time (abbreviated **DST**) is therefore the officially established time prevailing from mid-March to early November in most of North America. Note that several Canadian provinces have moved to permanent daylight saving time. ## Other names for daylight saving time In North America, **daylight saving time** is the preferred term, especially in formal writing. The term **daylight time** is also used. The term **daylight savings time** (with an **s**) is listed in several dictionaries, because it is commonly used. However, it should be noted that this term is grammatically incorrect: the plural form **savings** is a noun referring to a collection of things saved, whereas the singular form **saving** is a participle referring to the act of saving something. For this reason, a number of style guides advise against using the plural form. On other continents, this time shift is known as **summer time**. When referring to the time shift, use the two-word spelling **summer time**: - When Britain is on summer time, it can get up to 16 hours of sunlight. When referring to the season, use the one-word spelling **summertime**: - In summertime, Canadians flock to their cottages. ## “Daylight Time” in names of time zones When a region is on daylight saving, we use **Daylight Time**, not **Daylight Saving Time**, in the name of the time zone (for example: Atlantic Daylight Time, **not** Atlantic Daylight Saving Time). - In the summer, Atlantic Daylight Time is in effect in the Maritime provinces and in parts of Quebec and Labrador. ## Omission of “Standard” and “Daylight” There’s a trend toward omitting the words **Standard** and **Daylight** in the names of time zones so that time-sensitive material doesn’t need to be updated when the clocks are turned forward and back. - The conference schedule is based on Eastern time. Note, however, that Saskatchewan remains on Central Standard Time year-round. ## Capitalization The generic terms **standard time** and **daylight saving time**, as well as any synonyms of **daylight saving time**, are treated as common nouns and written in lowercase. - The mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” reminds people to turn the clocks forward one hour in the spring when they move to daylight saving time and back one hour in the fall when they move to standard time. Names of time zones are usually treated as proper nouns and capitalized. So, **standard time** and **daylight time** are usually capitalized when they appear in the name of a time zone. - Eastern Standard Time - Newfoundland Daylight Time In the shortened form, the word **time** is usually lowercased. - Atlantic time ## Additional information - [Abbreviations: Time zones](/en/writing-tips-plus/abbreviations-time-zones) ## Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil Writing Tips Plus © Sa Majesté le Roi du chef du Canada, représenté par le ou la ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement Un outil créé et mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada ## Rechercher par thèmes connexes Vous voulez en apprendre davantage sur un thème abordé dans cette page? Cliquez sur un lien ci-dessous pour voir toutes les pages du Portail linguistique du Canada portant sur le thème choisi. Les résultats de recherche s’afficheront dans le [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator). - [Abbreviations, acronyms and symbols](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) - [Abbreviations](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A448#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) - [General knowledge](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A464#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) - [Vocabulary](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A500#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) - [Writing conventions](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A512#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) - [Capitalization](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A512&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A513#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results) ## Liens connexes - [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil) - [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra) - [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques) - [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)