about that hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about that hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific time or period, often in a conversational context. Example: "We should plan to meet about that hour to discuss the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

On this, the second day of summer time (that's a laugh, isn't it?), I wonder whether we'll feel the same about that hour that's been taken away from us.

Independent

Because, say I work for a hundred pounds an hour, that it makes it sound very classy, whereas I tend to be going to real s***holes … Yeah, it is a hundred pounds for an hour, but you can be thinking about that hour for the next month".

Independent

By about that hour the next day, Mr. Cawley, whose plane took off in a snowstorm to rush him to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., had his three new organs, and Mrs. Hubbard, who was driven there through the night by a friend, had her liver.

The New York Times - Health

As I've always heard, this isn't about that hour of time, but about the other 23 hours in the day.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I'm not thinking about that every hour and every minute.

BBC

Make that about 2 hours for me.

TechCrunch

All that took about an hour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He apologises, explaining that he spent "about an hour" that morning tidying up for my visit.

The Guardian - Books

Bank of America Merrill Lynch said it could not comment on the claims about the hours that Mr Erhardt had been working.

Independent

It maintained that intensity for about 18 hours, and during that time the hurricane turned to the southwest.

Wikipedia

I recon that with about 4 hours training, I could drive a tube train.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about that hour" when you need to refer to a specific, though not necessarily exact, point in time within a narrative or plan.

Common error

Don't use "about that hour" if you need to convey an exact time; use it only when an approximation is sufficient. If the context requires precision, state the exact time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about that hour" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating an approximate time. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to refer to a general timeframe rather than an exact moment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about that hour" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate an approximate time. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples primarily from news and media sources. While acceptable in neutral contexts, consider more precise language for formal or scientific writing. Alternatives include "around that hour" and "approximately that hour". Be mindful of the level of precision required when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around that hour

Replaces "about" with "around" to denote approximation.

approximately that hour

Substitutes "about" with "approximately" for a more formal tone.

near that hour

Indicates a point in time close to the hour mentioned.

at approximately that hour

A more emphatic version of "approximately that hour".

at that time

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general expression referring to a specific point in time.

during that hour

Emphasizes that something occurs throughout the specified hour.

within that hour

Similar to "during that hour", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on being contained within the hour.

in that hour

Suggests something happening within the confines of that particular hour.

on or around that hour

Combines precision with approximation, useful when the exact timing is uncertain.

that hour specifically

Highlights the specific hour being referenced.

FAQs

How can I use "about that hour" in a sentence?

You can use "about that hour" to indicate an approximate time, such as, "The meeting should start "around that hour"".

What's a more formal alternative to "about that hour"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "approximately that hour" or "at approximately that time".

Is it correct to say "at about that hour" instead of "about that hour"?

While "about that hour" is more common and concise, "at about that hour" isn't grammatically incorrect but might sound slightly redundant. Using "around that time" could be a better option.

What does "about that hour" imply regarding the specific time?

"About that hour" suggests the time is close to the stated hour, but not necessarily exact. It allows for a margin of error, indicating it could be a few minutes before or after.