How to read an analog clock
Turn the hands, read the time, and set the clock.
How to read an analog clock
3:15 · quarter past three
- The short hand is the hour. Read the number it has just passed. Halfway between 3 and 4 is still three-something.
- The long hand is the minutes. Each number counts 5 minutes: 1 is 5, 2 is 10, 6 is 30. Count the small ticks for the minutes in between.
- Say it. At 12 the long hand means “o'clock”. At 3 it's quarter past, at 6 half past, at 9 quarter to the next hour.
- Drag the long hand round and watch the short hand creep along with it, as the gears inside make it.
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