approximately two hours later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "approximately two hours later" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a time frame that is close to two hours after a specific event or moment. Example: "The train was scheduled to arrive at 3 PM, but it actually showed up approximately two hours later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Unaware of the exact location of the blockading squadron, Decatur set a course to avoid them and seek a safe port, but approximately two hours later the squadron's sails were spotted on the horizon.

Wikipedia

Approximately two hours later, the dough will have doubled.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Approximately four hours later, several unheralded Giants proved him right.

The New York Times - Sports

Participants completed five comprehension check (CC) questions within five minutes of the story being delivered as well as approximately seven hours later.

The Arts in Psychotherapy

12. Approximately four hours later, plaintiff Dolly Filartiga was awakened by Paraguayan police officials who summoned her to the defendant Pena-Irala's home.

Yale University

The New York City Marathon, where Tesfaye Jifar of Ethiopia and Margaret Okayo of Kenya were declared winners shortly after 2 p.m., and the World Series, where the Arizona Diamondbacks became world champions approximately nine hours later, provided timely diversions from Afghanistan and anthrax.

The New York Times

For instance, the eruption plumes reach their peak approximately five hours later than expected, even when taking into account the 40 minutes needed for the erupted particles to reach the altitude at which Cassini can detect them.

Princeton University

The moment of the equinox takes place at 21 58 GMT on 20 March and by coincidence the moon reaches full illumination approximately four hours later at 01 43 GMT on 21 March.

The Guardian

The depression strengthened, and approximately twelve hours later, became Tropical Storm Gordon.

Wikipedia

During this time, Mattingly was preparing the Command/Service Module in anticipation their return approximately six hours later.

Wikipedia

The subject then left the lab and returned approximately four hours later.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "approximately two hours later", ensure the context clearly establishes the initial event or point of reference. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vagueness by clearly stating what event precedes the "approximately two hours later." Without a clear reference, the time frame becomes meaningless. For example, instead of saying "Approximately two hours later, the problem was solved", specify "After the meeting concluded, approximately two hours later, the problem was solved."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "approximately two hours later" functions as an adverbial phrase of time. It modifies a verb by specifying when an action occurred in relation to a prior event. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts to denote a time delay.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "approximately two hours later" serves as an adverbial phrase indicating a time roughly two hours after a reference point. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki. While alternatives such as "about two hours afterward" or "roughly two hours subsequently" exist, clarity in specifying the initial event is crucial for effective communication. This phrase provides a practical way to convey a temporal sequence with a degree of estimation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about two hours afterward

Replaces "approximately" with "about" and "later" with "afterward", maintaining the same meaning with slightly different wording.

roughly two hours subsequently

Substitutes "approximately" with "roughly" and "later" with "subsequently", providing a more formal alternative.

nearly two hours thereafter

Uses "nearly" to approximate the time and "thereafter" for a more formal tone instead of later.

almost two hours after that

Uses "almost" instead of "approximately" and rephrases "later" as "after that", indicating a near two-hour delay.

two hours or so afterwards

Adds "or so" to indicate an estimation and replaces "later" with "afterwards", offering a more casual tone.

around two hours following that

Replaces "approximately" with "around" and "later" with "following that", slightly altering the formality.

in approximately two hours

Indicates an event happening in the future instead of in the past.

a couple of hours after

Replaces "approximately two" with "a couple of", making it less formal.

two hours in the wake of that

Employs the phrase "in the wake of that" to convey a time shortly after a previous event.

within a two-hour timeframe

Focuses on the duration rather than the delay after a specific event.

FAQs

How can I use "approximately two hours later" in a sentence?

Use "approximately two hours later" to indicate an event that occurred roughly two hours after a specific point in time. For example, "The meeting ended at 2 PM; "approximately two hours later", we received the results."

What are some alternatives to saying "approximately two hours later"?

You can use alternatives like "about two hours afterward", "roughly two hours subsequently", or "almost two hours after that" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it more appropriate to say "about two hours later" or "approximately two hours later"?

"About two hours later" is slightly more informal, while "approximately two hours later" is a bit more precise. Both are acceptable, but choose based on the desired tone and context.

What's the difference between "approximately two hours later" and "in approximately two hours"?

"Approximately two hours later" refers to a time in the past, measured from a known reference point. "In approximately two hours" refers to a future time, indicating when something will occur from the present moment.