a whole hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"a whole hour" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time that is 60 minutes in length. For example: "We had to wait for a whole hour before the bus arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This took a whole hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

For a whole hour and five minutes.

The Guardian

Unlike his opponents, he was given a whole hour.

The Economist

It doesn't have to take a whole hour.

The Washington Post

For a whole hour". Then, she said, the problem returned.

The New York Times - Science

Trump listened in silence for a whole hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

We are going to do a whole hour on wisdom teeth later on in the season.

The New Yorker

Back on the boats for one last day of sailing, I manage a whole hour upright.

Independent

Does the group really need a whole hour for project status updates?

The New York Times

But there's nearly a whole hour and a half of other discoveries to come first.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A whole hour has been rudely snatched out of our lives this morning.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When estimating time, be precise. Using "a whole hour" can add emphasis when the duration feels significant to the context.

Common error

Don't use "a whole hour" when a more specific timeframe is known. Precision enhances clarity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a whole hour" functions as a quantifier phrase, specifying a duration of time. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used. It modifies a noun, in this case, "hour", to indicate a complete unit of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a whole hour" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a 60-minute period. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread applicability. Its primary function is to quantify time, often with an implicit emphasis on the duration's perceived length or significance. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register, making it appropriate for various communication scenarios. When a specific timeframe is not needed, consider it a general way to quantify a duration of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an entire hour

Replaces "whole" with "entire", emphasizing completeness.

a full hour

Emphasizes that the entire duration of the hour is accounted for.

a complete hour

Substitutes "whole" with "complete", highlighting that the hour is fully utilized.

one complete hour

Similar to "a complete hour", but begins with the number one, underlining that it is a single, entire hour

sixty minutes straight

Specifies the exact duration, emphasizing uninterrupted time.

a full sixty minutes

Combines "full" with the explicit minute count, reinforcing the total time.

an hour solid

Uses "solid" to convey continuous and uninterrupted time.

a straight hour

Shortens the phrase while retaining the meaning of uninterrupted duration.

a solid hour

Synonymous with "an hour solid", implying uninterrupted time.

precisely one hour

Highlights the exactness of the duration.

FAQs

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

You can use "a whole hour" to describe a period of 60 minutes, as in "I waited "a whole hour" for the bus".

What's a more formal way to say "a whole hour"?

While "a whole hour" is generally acceptable, you might use "an entire hour" or "a complete hour" in formal contexts.

Is it better to say "a whole hour" or "one hour"?

Both "a whole hour" and "one hour" are correct, but "a whole hour" often emphasizes the length or significance of the time period.

What phrases are similar in meaning to "a whole hour"?

Alternatives include "an entire hour", "a full hour", or "sixty minutes", depending on the context.