What does 'after midnight on Wednesday' mean?

West Midlands Police said the devices were found outside an address in Coronation Road, Tipton, just after midnight on Wednesday.

MSN news : Bomb Squad Called

It is now Wednesday. To me, 'midnight on Wednesday' means midnight tonight. And after 'midnight on Wednesday' it will be tomorrow - Thursday.

It actually took me a moment or two to work out that the Bomb Squad incident in Tipton (West Midlands, UK) happened early this morning.

I think the report should have said 'after midnight on Wednesday morning'.

Am I wrong ?

Solution 1:

It's a matter of style.

I can't determine what style MSN deliberately uses, but it may be that they have inherited the Microsoft corporate style, midnight belongs to the day it starts, or Wednesday as in the example.

midnight, noon Use noon and midnight. Don't use 12:00 noon and 12:00 midnight.

Midnight is the beginning of the new day, not the end of the old one.

By comparison, the AP (Associated Press) Style Guide, says this

AP Style also notes that midnight is part of the day that is ending, not the one that is beginning.