Different conventions exist around the world for date and time representation, both written and spoken.These standard notations have been adopted by many countries as a national standard, e.g., BS EN 28601 in the UK and similarly in other EU countries, ANSI INCITS 30-1997 (R2008), and FIPS PUB 4–2 in the United States (FIPS PUB 4-2 withdrawn in United States).Some regions utilize 24-hour time notation in casual speech as well, such as regions that speak German, French, or Romanian, though this is less common overall; other countries that utilize the 24-hour clock for displaying time physically may use the 12-hour clock more often in verbal communication.[citation needed] Most people who live in countries that use one of the clocks dominantly are still able to understand both systems without much confusion; the statements "three o'clock" and "15:00", for example, are easily recognized as synonyms.[citation needed] In most countries there are no formal abbreviations to distinguish before and after noon, many people will commonly use informal designations, such as "in the morning" or "in the evening".