after working hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"after working hours" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period after one's scheduled work hours have ended, usually in the evening or at night. Example: "After working hours, John likes to unwind by going for a run in the park." In this sentence, "after working hours" specifies when John likes to go for a run, which is after he has finished working for the day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They arrived there after working hours.

The New York Times

It is after working hours when the crowds arrive.

The New York Times

"All of this occurred off duty and after working hours.

The New York Times

In Japan, 30% of manuscripts were submitted after working hours on weekdays.

Nature

"At home, after working hours, I worked to develop flash memory".

The Economist

Factory workers are expected to gather after working hours for speeches, films, plays, or "mass demonstrations".

The New Yorker

Written questions sent to Russia's pipeline operator, Transneft, were not answered after working hours on Friday.

The New York Times

"I always visited after working hours, so the site was empty of workers and quite tranquil," Mr. Staller said.

The New York Times

The highest level of MVPA is found in adult users (72.4%), which mostly are office workers who visit the park after working hours for exercise.

Procedia Engineering

Calls to the Yinan County prosecutors' office were not answered after working hours, when word of the questioning of Chen Guangcheng's relatives spread among Chinese human rights advocates.

The New York Times

So consumed are they that the country's association of industries asked -- futilely -- that World Cup matches be televised only after working hours, lest absenteeism rise to epidemic levels.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after working hours" to set a clear boundary between professional and personal life.

Common error

When communicating across time zones, ensure you specify the correct time zone when referring to "after working hours" to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after working hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify when an action takes place. As Ludwig shows, this phrase helps to situate events in time relative to the end of the standard workday.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

36%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after working hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe activities that occur outside of the standard workday. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is frequently found in News & Media, Scientific and Academic contexts. It functions adverbially, providing timing information, and maintains a neutral register suitable for both professional and informal communication. The related phrases offer varied options for expressing similar timeframes. Remember to clarify time zones and differentiate this phrase from similar but incorrect versions to ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

outside of work time

Focuses on the time period being separate from scheduled work.

post-work period

More formal, emphasizes the period following work.

in one's free time after work

More descriptive, specifying free time.

after the workday ends

Highlights the conclusion of the working day.

following the close of business

More formal, often used in a business context.

in the evening after work

Specifies the time of day.

on personal time after the job

Emphasizes the personal use of time.

after the office closes

Specific to office environments.

outside of business hours

Focuses on deviation from scheduled hours.

during off-hours

More concise and general.

FAQs

How do you use "after working hours" in a sentence?

You can use "after working hours" to indicate when an activity occurs outside of the typical workday, such as, "The gym is usually crowded "after working hours"".

What's a more formal way to say "after working hours"?

A more formal alternative to "after working hours" is "outside of business hours". This is often used in professional or official communications.

Which is correct: "after working hours" or "after work hours"?

"After working hours" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "After work hours" is less common and can sound awkward to native English speakers.

What activities are commonly done "after working hours"?

Common activities "after working hours" include socializing, exercising, pursuing hobbies, and spending time with family. It generally refers to leisure or personal activities undertaken once the workday has concluded.