EST stands for an Eastern Standard Time, and EDT stands for Eastern Daylight Time. Both Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time are used as time zones for the same area. Yet, both of them cannot be used as synonyms.
They are used for better time management and for convenient international calls, meetings, and conferences. These time zones are determining by the geographical conditions and location of our planet and the sun as well as the moon.
The difference between both the time zones is that of a single letter. Understandably, confusion can arise as to when do we apply the Eastern Standard Time and when the Eastern Daylight Time.
EDT vs EST
The main difference between Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time is that EST is used during the fall-winter season. It is used from the first Sunday of November. EDT is also an hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time. According to the coordinated universal time, the Eastern Daylight Time is four hours behind it, whereas the Eastern Standard Time is five hours behind coordinated universal time.
For example: when Eastern Daylight Time is used, the international meetings are held between 10 am to 6 pm whereas for Eastern Standard Time the same meeting and conference are held between 9 am to 5 pm.
EST and EDT are not used in any other part of the world apart from eastern countries.
Comparison Table Between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of comparison | Eastern Standard Time | Eastern Daylight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Used for the fall-winter season. | Used for the summer-spring season. |
| Hour | One hour behind from the Eastern Daylight Time. | One hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. |
| Universal time | Five hours behind coordinated universal time. | Four hours behind coordinated universal time. |
| Abbreviation | EST | EDT |
| Areas | Used all over the Eastern time zone. | Not used in the Southern parts of the time zone. |
| In effect | In effect 2 am from the first Sunday of November. | 2 am from the second Sunday of March. |
What is Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)?
EDT is an Eastern Daylight Time. This time zone is used in the summer to
spring season. It comes into effect at 2 am on the second Sunday of March.
Eastern Daylight Time is not applicable in the southern areas of the world.
The Eastern Daylight Time is one hour ahead of the Eastern Standard Time. The Eastern Daylight Time is 4 hours behind coordinated universal time. When the Eastern Daylight Time comes into effect, international conferences are organized between 9 am to 5 pm.
It’s applicable in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America.
This time zone is for the people living in the eastern zone of the world. In the USA it is in effect from last Sunday of April until the last Sunday in October.
This was implemented in the USA since 2007.
What is Eastern Standard Time (EST)?
EST is the Eastern Standard Time. The time zone is used for all the eastern parts of the world. This time zone is applied in the fall and winter seasons.
It comes in effect from 2 am on the first Sunday of November.
The Eastern Standard Time is one hour behind the Eastern Daylight Time. It is also five hours behind coordinated universal time. When Eastern Standard Time is in effect, all the international conferences are organized between 10 am to 6 pm.
The time zone is used in North America, the Caribbean, and Central
America. In the areas where Eastern Standard Time is used, on the second Sunday
of March, it is switched to Eastern Daylight Time and hence creating an hour
gap because the Eastern Standard Time is one hour behind the EDT.
When on the first Sunday of November the countries switch to Eastern
Daylight Time that an hour’s gap is covered.
Main Differences Between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- The abbreviation for Eastern Standard Time is EST and the abbreviation for Eastern Daylight Time is EDT.
- The Eastern Standard Time is applicable in the fall-winter season and the Eastern Daylight Time is applicable in the summer-spring season.
- The Eastern Standard Time comes into effect at 2 am on the first Sunday of November whereas the Eastern Daylight Time comes into effect at 2 am on the second Sunday of March.
- The Eastern Standard Time is followed by the eastern part of the world, whereas the Eastern Daylight Time is not followed in the southern parts of the world.
- The Eastern Standard Time is 1 hour behind the Eastern Daylight Time.
- The Eastern Standard Time is 5 hours behind coordinated universal time, but on the other hand, the Eastern Daylight Time is 4 hours behind the coordinated time.
Conclusion
In today’s world as the concept of Eastern Daylight Time is recently
introduced, it can be a little challenging to understand the difference between
both the time zones, i.e. the Eastern Standard Time and the Eastern Daylight
Time.
The Eastern Daylight Time has come in effect from 2007 in the USA and
other parts. The time zones are similar in many senses, yet there are basic
differences because of which we cannot use it interchangeably.
The time difference is such that it appears to be a menial difference, yet it is quite important.
Both the time zones help us in better understanding our day and prepare a schedule such that it is convenient and easy to understand for everyone. The time zones had made international communication easier for professionals and experts.
The implementation of these time zones ensures that everyone is on the same page when it comes to time management.
For example – if someone is in Japan and needs to contact someone from the USA at 11 am then these time zones determine at what time will it be for the person in the USA.
References
- https://eprints.usq.edu.au/1104