an one hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an one hour" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "a one hour" because "one" begins with a consonant sound. Example: "I need a one hour meeting to discuss the project details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Gianoni describes the way Blackbaud had traditionally run their Town Halls, "When I first started with the company, for the most part, you get up on the stage, in an one hour town hall you spend 45 minutes on the financials". Like most organizations, Blackbaud's previous leadership focused on the money story, not the meaning story.

Forbes

Brian Paddick, a former senior Met officer and now Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate, has pledged: Transport Targeted fare cuts, including an one hour bus ticket, a part timers' travel card and early bird discount for commuters using network before 7.30am.

The Guardian

In the 5th day, we conducted an one hour discussion about the matter, followed up by a three hours exam where students used pen and paper to answer open-ended questions.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

The Steve Jobs' Macworld Keynote is Apple Fanboy's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day all rolled into an one hour event, but there isn't one scheduled this year according to the Macworld Website.

TechCrunch

The Steve Jobs' Macworld Keynote is Apple Fanboy's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day all rolled into an one hour event, but there isn't one scheduled this year according to the Macworld Website.

TechCrunch

With this maintenance rate, the overlay can handle a churn rate in which up to 250 peers depart or 500 peers join the overlay during an one hour period, which is more than enough for our use case, in which the overlay is expected to be fairly static.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Results of annual plant operation on a one hour basis are presented and discussed.

Energy Procedia

This was a one hour programme on future markets.

Huffington Post

Saturday rehabilitation consisted of a one hour scheduled Physiotherapy session and a one hour scheduled Occupational Therapy session.

BMC Health Services Research

I'd like to write a one hour drama for TV because I'm a huge one hour drama fan.

Huffington Post

Studies show this is equivalent to a one hour jog.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "a" before "one" when referring to a duration of time because "one" begins with a consonant sound. Instead of writing "an one hour meeting", write "a one hour meeting".

Common error

Avoid using the article "an" before words that start with a consonant sound, even if the first letter is a vowel written. Saying "an one hour" is a common mistake. Remember to use "a one hour" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an one hour" functions as a determiner followed by a noun phrase, attempting to specify a duration of time. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the article usage is incorrect. While examples can be found, they do not represent standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

47%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "an one hour" is grammatically incorrect due to the misuse of the indefinite article "an" before the word "one", which begins with a consonant sound. The correct phrasing is "a one hour". While Ludwig's examples show the phrase appearing in some contexts like News & Media and Science, it should be avoided in formal writing. Alternatives such as "a one-hour period" or "sixty minutes" can provide clarity. Always ensure correct article usage for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a one-hour period

Replaces the indefinite article and adds 'period' for clarity.

a one hour duration

Substitutes 'duration' for 'period', maintaining similar meaning.

one hour long

Rearranges the words to emphasize the duration.

a sixty-minute interval

Replaces "one hour" with its equivalent in minutes, offering a more precise tone.

a 60-minute session

Uses a numerical abbreviation with "session" for a succinct description of time allocated.

a single hour

Emphasizes the singularity of the hour with the addition of "single."

a period of one hour

Adds "period of" to specifically define length of time.

an hour

Removes "one", which is not needed in the sentence.

sixty minutes

Offers a direct conversion of the time frame into minutes.

approximately an hour

Indicates that the time frame is close to one hour but not exact.

FAQs

Why is "an one hour" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "an one hour" is grammatically incorrect because the word "one" begins with a consonant sound (/wʌ/), which requires the indefinite article "a", not "an". The correct phrase is /s/a+one+hour.

What's the difference between "an one hour" and "a one hour"?

"An one hour" is grammatically incorrect. "A one hour" is correct because the rule dictates using "a" before words starting with a consonant sound, and "one" begins with the /wʌ/ sound. Therefore, always use /s/a+one+hour.

Can I say something other than "a one hour meeting"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "a /s/one+hour+long meeting", "a /s/sixty-minute+meeting", or simply "an /s/hour meeting" depending on the context.

Is "an one-hour meeting" correct?

No, "an one-hour meeting" is incorrect. The correct phrasing is "a one-hour meeting" or "a one-hour-long meeting" which follows the standard rules of English grammar.