As is typical with language, the lengthy phrase “of the clock” was eventually shortened to o’clock for simplicity. People used the phrase frequently when telling time or scheduling events, and the abbreviated version made conversations smoother.
“Because it’s a set phrase for telling time, it’s not surprising that it got shortened over time as we started saying it faster,” explains Anne Curzan, PhD, a professor of English, linguistics, and education at the University of Michigan, in an interview with Reader’s Digest.
The Evolution of Words
Slang and contractions often develop naturally as people skip over less significant parts of phrases in casual speech. Michael Adams, PhD, a professor of English and linguistics at Indiana University, elaborates: “It’s unusual for English speakers to retain many words in unstressed positions in a phrase. In ‘1 of the clock,’ you’ve got two unstressed words: of and the. That creates an invitation for abbreviation. So instead of saying ‘1 of the clock,’ it becomes ‘1 o’clock.’ This rhythmic alternation is typical of English.”
The Role of Writing in Standardization
As literacy spread, written language played a significant role in cementing o’clock as the standard. The more people wrote it, the less frequently the full phrase of the clock was used. “Because these phrases emerged early enough, the spelling adapted to match the pronunciation,” Curzan explains.Jack-o’-Lantern and Other Contractions
O’clock isn’t the only contraction that has outlived its original phrase. Take Jack-o’-lantern, for instance. The “O” once again stands for “of,” making the full term “Jack of the lantern.”
