Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1993 10:16:25 +0100   Subject: Re: Half Past
the Hour  Charles M. Rosenberg, University of Notre Dame said:
I was born and raised in and near Chicago and went to college
near Philadelphia. To my ear three-thirty is the norm, though  I
have heard half-past three as well.  Charles M. Rosenberg,
University of Notre Dame  DMLance wrote:  As a former Texan (Nay
-- once a Texan always a Texan), I assure you that  'half past'
in various forms is not uncommon. I have echoes of my father
using it; he was born in sw Ark and lived in "Indian Territory"
south of  Okie City from age 2 to age 15. And I use it
regularly, even in Missouri,  with no indication that anyone
thinks it's strange.       sharp, as when answering a query like
"When does your train leave, sir?"  "[at] three thirty".  I
would use hafl past three almost exclusively, and nothing else.
This is not to say that the expressions cited on this list
aren't usable or  correct. Of course they are, but I don't use
them.  Dennis Baron debaron[