Hello! As an expert in the field of timekeeping and language, I'm here to provide a detailed explanation of the concept you've inquired about.
When we talk about "a quarter till seven," we're discussing a specific point in time that is a quarter of an hour, or 15 minutes, before the hour of seven o'clock. This is a common way to express time in English, and it's particularly useful for indicating times that are not exactly on the hour. The phrase "a quarter till seven" translates to 6:45 in a 24-hour clock format, which is the correct way to express this time.
It's important to note that the phrase "a quarter till" is different from "a quarter past." For example, "a quarter past seven" would mean 7:15, indicating that it is 15 minutes after the hour of seven. The use of "till" versus "past" is a key distinction in English when describing the time.
Now, let's address the misconceptions that you've mentioned. Saying "15 minus (or less) the next hour" is incorrect when referring to "a quarter till seven." The correct way to express this time is simply "seven forty-five" or "a quarter till seven." The phrase "eight less 15" or "eight minus 15" is not a standard way to express this time in English and could lead to confusion.
The concept of "a quarter" in this context refers to a quarter of an hour, which is equivalent to 15 minutes. It's a way to break down the hour into manageable segments, making it easier to communicate the time. This is especially useful when discussing schedules, appointments, or events that are not aligned with the exact hour.
In summary, "a quarter till seven" is a phrase that indicates a time that is 15 minutes before seven o'clock. It is correctly expressed as 6:45 in a 24-hour clock format and should not be confused with phrases like "15 minutes before the next hour" or "eight less 15," which are not standard English expressions for this time.

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not say "15 minus (or less) the next hour": wrong: 7:45 = *eight less 15 or *eight. minus 15. right: 7:45 = seven forty-five or. a quarter / fifteen (minutes) before /read more >>