a good hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a good hour" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means a satisfying or productive period of time that lasts for approximately one hour. Example: "I spent a good hour at the gym this morning, and I already feel more energized."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lunch is a good hour at Balthazar.

The New York Times - Food

And so on, for a good hour.

The New York Times

Did the program run a good hour longer than expected?

The New York Times

I give any baked potato a good hour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It takes a good hour to walk round.

The Guardian - Travel

They were now a good hour from the village.

The Guardian - Books

But I urge you to put aside a good hour or so to absorb Bobby's story.

The New York Times

The lady said she had been hunting for a good hour and a half.

The New Yorker

"We spent a good hour and a half hour going through the safety procedures," he said.

The New York Times

"I practised with David Ferrer yesterday for a good hour and a half.

Independent

We are still a good hour from real blackness but have arrived early for a reason.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a good hour" to describe a period of time that was both satisfying and approximately 60 minutes long. For example, "I dedicated a good hour to writing and made significant progress".

Common error

Avoid using "a good hour" when you simply mean one hour. This phrase suggests the hour was particularly productive or enjoyable, not just a measure of time. If the quality of the hour isn't relevant, just say "an hour".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a good hour" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the duration of an activity or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It modifies verbs by specifying the length of time something took, lasted, or required.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a good hour" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a period of approximately 60 minutes, often implying that the time was well-spent or productive. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its usage is most prevalent in news, lifestyle, and travel contexts, with authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times frequently employing it. When aiming for precision or lacking the implication of value, it is recommended to use "an hour" instead. Consider alternatives like "a solid hour" or "a productive hour" to fine-tune the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a solid hour

Emphasizes the continuous and uninterrupted nature of the hour.

a decent hour

Highlights the acceptability and adequacy of the time spent.

a full hour

Focuses on the completeness of the hour.

a substantial hour

Indicates that the hour was meaningful and significant.

a productive hour

Highlights that the time was used effectively and resulted in accomplishments.

an enjoyable hour

Suggests the time was spent pleasantly and agreeably.

a worthwhile hour

Implies the time was valuable and beneficial.

approximately an hour

Offers a less precise estimation of the time duration.

about an hour

Provides a casual approximation of the time.

nearly an hour

Indicates the duration was close to, but not exactly, one hour.

FAQs

How can I use "a good hour" in a sentence?

You can use "a good hour" to describe a block of time, approximately 60 minutes, that was well-spent or satisfying. For example, "I spent "a good hour" reading my favorite book today".

What is the difference between "a good hour" and simply "an hour"?

"A good hour" implies that the time spent was particularly productive, enjoyable, or worthwhile. "An hour" is a neutral measurement of time without any implied quality.

What can I say instead of "a good hour"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "a solid hour", "a full hour", or "a productive hour". These phrases emphasize different aspects of the time spent.

Is it always correct to use "a good hour" when referring to 60 minutes?

No, using "a good hour" is only appropriate when you want to convey that the time was used effectively or enjoyably. If you simply need to state the duration, use "an hour" instead.