Key Difference – Afternoon vs Evening
Afternoon and evening are two words that can be rather confusing for most language learners. This confusion mainly occurs when we greet others. Before comprehending the difference between Afternoon and Evening, first, let us define them. Afternoon refers to the period of time that begins at midday and ends in the evening. On the other hand, evening refers to the period of time between the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the night. This can be considered as the key difference between afternoon and evening.
What is Afternoon?
Afternoon refers to the period of time that begins at midday and ends in the evening. So when greeting people with good afternoon, it is better to use it from twelve noon till around five. For instance, imagine you were asked to come for an interview at 2 pm. As you approach the board of interviewers, it is better to greet them with ‘good afternoon’.
Here are some examples of the word afternoon.
In the afternoon, we had to attend a small gathering.
It was a beautiful afternoon that we decided to go out.
My brother prefers to sleep in the afternoon.
It rained all afternoon.
Experts highlight that the early afternoon is a time where people display a lack of motivation to work. This is clearly visible with the decrease of performance. Most people prefer to have a small nap in the afternoon after having lunch. This once again proves that the afternoon can be a less productive period of time. Also according to statistics, the afternoon is a time when a large number of vehicle accidents can take place because the individual alertness is minimal.
What is Evening?
Evening refers to the period of time between the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the night. The word evening is associated from around five or six o clock until nightfall. Hence, you can use the greeting ‘good evening’ for this time.
We had to work late yesterday evening.
Have a nice evening.
There is a great movie on Saturday evening.
In the evening, I usually spend time with the kids.
During this period of time, people usually have dinner. There are also social gatherings, entertainment activities such as musical performances, concerts in the evening.
What is the difference between Afternoon and Evening?
Definitions of Afternoon and Evening:
Afternoon: Afternoon refers to the period of time that begins at midday and ends in the evening.
Evening: Evening refers to the period of time between the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the night.
Characteristics of Afternoon and Evening:
Time Period:
Afternoon: Afternoon is from noon until five or six.
Evening: Evening is from six until eight.
Beginning:
Afternoon: The afternoon begins at noon.
Evening: The evening begins at six o clock.
Ending:
Afternoon: The afternoon ends with the start of the evening.
Evening: The evening ends with nightfall.
Greetings:
Afternoon: In the afternoon, people greet others with ‘good afternoon’.
Evening: In the evening, people greet others with ‘good evening’.
Image Courtesy:
1. Late Afternoon Sun on Research Park By Stuart Seeger [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Sunset in Coquitlam By Chad Teer from Coquitlam, Canada – Flickr.com – image description page, [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons