an hour before

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an hour before" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific time that is one hour prior to another event or time. Example: "The meeting is scheduled for 3 PM, so please arrive an hour before to prepare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She always phoned an hour before arriving.

The New Yorker

questioned an hour before dinner.

The New York Times - Health

The bride an hour before her wedding.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, it arrives an hour before the deadline.

Independent

He sung for around an hour, before leaving prematurely.

Independent

"You showed up an hour before your appointment, Ma.

The New Yorker

Half an hour before the meeting, he'd received some news.

The New Yorker

"We'll stay here until an hour before the sheriff".

The New York Times

Steinmetz flew for half an hour before the radio blared.

The New Yorker

It was an hour before Obama managed more than "hello".

The New Yorker

It was half an hour before he came back.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling events, be specific if you need someone to arrive "an hour before" the start time to allow for preparation.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating which event the "an hour before" refers to. For example, instead of "Arrive an hour before", specify "Arrive "an hour before" the meeting starts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an hour before" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by indicating the timing of an action relative to another event. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and provides numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

39%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an hour before" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to specify a time period 60 minutes prior to a given event. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous examples across various domains. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, it serves the purpose of setting timelines and deadlines. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to explicitly state the event to which the phrase refers. Alternative phrases, such as "one hour prior to", offer more formal options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one hour prior to

Replaces "an hour before" with more formal synonyms, maintaining precise timing.

sixty minutes earlier than

Substitutes "an hour" with its equivalent in minutes, emphasizing the exact duration.

an hour in advance of

Replaces "before" with "in advance of", conveying the same temporal precedence.

one hour ahead of

Uses "ahead of" instead of "before", keeping the temporal relationship but with slightly different wording.

leading up to an hour before

Adds the aspect of the time leading up to the time one hour prior to the reference event.

precisely one hour before

Adds emphasis to the specific duration of one hour.

at least an hour earlier

Specifies a minimum time difference of one hour.

a full hour preceding

Uses "preceding" for "before" and emphasizes the hour is complete.

in the hour leading up to

Focuses on the period within the hour immediately before the event.

shortly before the hour

Indicates a time close to, but not necessarily a full hour before.

FAQs

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

You can use "an hour before" to specify a timeframe that occurs 60 minutes prior to a certain event. For example: "Dinner service begins "an hour before" the performance".

What's a more formal alternative to "an hour before"?

For more formal situations, you can use phrases like "one hour prior to" or "sixty minutes prior" to convey the same meaning as "an hour before".

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

No, it's grammatically incorrect. The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound, and "hour" begins with a vowel sound (even though the letter 'h' is present). Therefore, the correct phrase is "an hour before".

How does the meaning of "an hour before" differ from "an hour after"?

"An hour before" indicates a point in time that is 60 minutes prior to a specified event, while "an hour after" signifies a point in time that is 60 minutes following the event. They represent opposite temporal directions.