almost an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost an hour" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a period of time that is slightly less than an hour. For example: "We spent almost an hour discussing the plan for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The lockdown was lifted almost an hour later.

HuffPost

Minutes passed, almost an hour.

The New Yorker

I waited almost an hour.

The New Yorker

They waited for almost an hour.

The New York Times - Books

Clinton spoke for almost an hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

Almost an hour was edited out.

The New York Times

The meeting lasted almost an hour.

The New York Times

We talked candidly for almost an hour.

The Guardian - Opinion

They worked this way for almost an hour.

The New Yorker

We had been at the school for almost an hour.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But after hearing evidence for almost an hour-and-a-half, she pleaded guilty.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "almost an hour" with a more specific time frame if precision is necessary. For instance, "almost an hour, about 55 minutes".

Common error

Avoid using "almost an hour" when a precise time is known and relevant. Using the approximation in such instances is misleading and unprofessional. If you know it was 58 minutes, state that instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost an hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb by indicating duration. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing this usage, confirming its grammatical correctness and common application. It describes the approximate length of an action or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost an hour" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a time period slightly shorter than a full hour. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for a wide range of contexts, although more formal writing may benefit from specifying the duration in minutes for added precision. Key contexts include news, general discussions, and business communications. While versatile, ensure that using an approximation is appropriate and truthful to the information you are trying to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly one hour

Uses "nearly" instead of "almost" to convey a similar approximation of time.

close to an hour

Emphasizes the proximity to the full hour mark.

just under an hour

Highlights that the duration is slightly less than a complete hour.

virtually an hour

Uses "virtually" instead of "almost" for emphasis.

not quite an hour

Similar to "just under an hour" but with a slightly different emphasis.

approximately sixty minutes

More precise, converting the hour into its minute equivalent for a less casual tone.

a bit less than an hour

More informal, indicating a slightly shorter duration.

around 50 to 60 minutes

Provides a range to indicate the approximate duration.

in the vicinity of an hour

More formal and less common way of expressing an approximate time.

about three quarters of an hour

Expressed as three quarters of an hour, implying 45 minutes, instead of 60 minutes.

FAQs

How can I use "almost an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "almost an hour" to indicate a duration that is slightly less than a full hour. For example, "The meeting lasted "almost an hour"".

What's a more precise alternative to "almost an hour"?

If you want to be more precise, you could say "approximately 50 minutes" or "around 55 minutes" instead of ""almost an hour"".

Is it appropriate to use "almost an hour" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, in very formal contexts, it may be preferable to specify the duration in minutes. For instance, instead of saying ""almost an hour"", you could write "approximately 55 minutes".

What are some similar phrases to "almost an hour"?

Similar phrases include "nearly one hour", "close to an hour", or "just under an hour", which all convey a similar meaning.