a tense hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tense hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a period of time that is filled with anxiety, stress, or anticipation. Example: "Waiting for the results of the exam was a tense hour for all the students in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

After a tense hour, the Swissair flight was called.

The New York Times

A silent hour of comedy is a tense hour.

The Guardian

For a tense hour on Thursday, Mr. Sarkozy and President Hu Jintao of China were going back and forth about tax havens.

The New York Times

Over the course of a tense hour, the heroine, who was abducted aged 12 on her way home from school, and has been in captivity for 12 years, discovers the door to her prison is open.

Independent

Natalie Fitzsimons, who had entered with and beat her husband in the heats, won the championship after a tense hour and a half-long final against three other opponents on Sunday evening.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In 2008, on a solo trip from the coast of Canada to the North Pole, she fell through the ice, dislocated a shoulder and spent a tense hour in a hole before she could figure out how to turn a ski into a makeshift ladder.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

A tense, hour-long standoff then ensued at the mouth of Gold Butte, the preserve where the cattle were corralled.

The Guardian

There's a tense hour-and-a-half wait until finally his fleet of Mercedes swings into view, and then a spontaneous round of applause.

The Guardian - Music

In a tense hour-long chancellors' TV debate tonight, seen as the precursor of the party leaders' debates, George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, was accused of taking "a terrible risk" with the economy with a £30bn plan to reverse Labour's planned national insurance rise.

The Guardian

Little do I know that an unexpectedly tense hour will soon unfold.

The Guardian - Travel

It was an engaging and tense hour from start to finish, with satisfying pay-offs for those of us that enjoy Castiel's inclusion in the story; a delicious return for Mark Sheppard, who can chew scenery in his sleep and steal scenes with the mere quirk of an eyebrow; and a suitably messy send-off for Dick.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a tense hour" to effectively convey a short period filled with anticipation, anxiety, or high stakes, particularly in narrative or descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "tense" repeatedly within a short span of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "anxious", "stressful", or "fraught" to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tense hour" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "hour". It describes the quality of the hour as being filled with tension, anxiety, or anticipation, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a tense hour" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English to describe a period characterized by anxiety, stress, or anticipation. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in News & Media sources. When using this phrase, be mindful of overusing the word "tense" and consider synonyms like "anxious" or "stressful" for variety. The phrase serves to highlight the emotional atmosphere of a specific time frame, making it a useful tool in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an anxious hour

Replaces "tense" with "anxious", focusing on the feeling of worry and unease.

a stressful hour

Substitutes "tense" with "stressful", highlighting the pressure and strain experienced.

a fraught hour

Uses "fraught" instead of "tense", suggesting a period filled with difficulty and anxiety.

a nail-biting hour

Emphasizes the excitement and suspense of the hour.

a difficult hour

Focuses on the challenging nature of the hour.

a trying hour

Highlights the testing and demanding aspects of the hour.

a suspenseful hour

Emphasizes the uncertainty and anticipation during the hour.

a critical hour

Highlights the importance and decisiveness of the hour.

a harrowing hour

Indicates a particularly distressing or painful experience during the hour.

a nerve-wracking hour

Focuses on the anxiety and stress caused by the hour.

FAQs

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

You can use "a tense hour" to describe a period filled with stress or anticipation, such as, "Waiting for the election results was "a tense hour" for everyone involved".

What are some alternatives to "a tense hour"?

Some alternatives include "an anxious hour", "a stressful hour", or "a fraught hour", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "an tense hour" instead of "a tense hour"?

No, it is incorrect. "Tense" begins with a consonant sound, so the correct article to use is "a", not "an". The correct phrase is ""a tense hour"".

What makes "a tense hour" different from "a tense moment"?

"A tense moment" refers to a brief, specific point in time filled with tension, whereas ""a tense hour"" describes a longer period characterized by sustained tension or anxiety.