around one clock

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "around one clock" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "around one o'clock," which is used to indicate an approximate time. Example: "Let's meet around one o'clock for lunch."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Our approach to surgery has generally been cryopexy for small clefts (around one clock hour) and cyclopexy for larger clefts.

British Journal of Ophthalmology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

To reduce the clock jitter, one clock is used to generate the clock sampling signal.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Inquiries showed the hospital did not have the right "bumpers" fitted to his bed to protect him and that the one-to-one, around-the-clock care that had been recommended had been withdrawn without explanation.

The Guardian

If your eyes just crossed at that term, note that nanobots are minuscule robots that clock in around one nanometer in size.

Huffington Post

16. 61 analog clocks which form one digital clock.

Vice

(See "Rock Around the Clock," from 1956).

The New Yorker

AROUND THE CLOCK iPhone/iPad – £1.49.

The Guardian - Tech

"He worked around the clock one night to design the machinery to knit the first pair of panty hose.

The New York Times

After the Williamsburg bridge was shut down last month, hundreds of workers from the Dept. of Transportation worked around the clock one weekend to launch this ferry service.

The New Yorker

Given that Western nations have become "24-hour societies," with more people awake around the clock, one hypothesis holds that nighttime exposure to artificial light suppresses the nocturnal production of melatonin.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Six years later, a 44-patient hospice — where the dying could be comforted by their loved ones around the clock and where the staff would do what it could to alleviate suffering — opened in Branford.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to an approximate time, always use "around one o'clock", "about one o'clock", or "approximately one o'clock". This ensures clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid saying "around one clock" when you mean approximately 1:00 PM. The term "o'clock" is essential for specifying the time on a 12-hour clock.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around one clock" functions as a prepositional phrase, but it is grammatically incorrect when intending to indicate time. As noted by Ludwig AI, the correct form is "around one o'clock". The provided example illustrates a correct usage referring to "one clock hour", but not in the context of time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "around one clock" is generally considered grammatically incorrect when referring to an approximate time. Ludwig AI identifies the correct form as "around one o'clock", "about one o'clock", or "approximately one o'clock". While examples exist where "around the clock" signifies continuous activity, using "around one clock" to denote time is inaccurate. For clarity and correctness, it's best to include "o'clock" or use alternative expressions like "approximately 1 PM" or "about 1 PM".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around one o'clock

Adds "o'clock" to specify time, which is the grammatically correct form for indicating an approximate time.

approximately one o'clock

Uses "approximately" for a more formal way to indicate an estimated time.

about one o'clock

Replaces "around" with "about", offering a slightly more casual but equally correct way to indicate an estimated time.

roughly one o'clock

Similar to "approximately", offering another option for indicating an estimated time.

close to one o'clock

Indicates that the time is near or approaching one o'clock.

around 1 PM

Uses the 12-hour clock format with "PM" to specify the afternoon.

almost one o'clock

Indicates that the time is very near to being one o'clock.

in the vicinity of one o'clock

A more formal and less common way to indicate a time close to one o'clock.

at approximately one

Shortened form using "approximately" without the "o'clock", implying the context is clear.

at about one

Uses "about" in a shortened form without "o'clock", implying the context is clear.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say an approximate time: "around one clock" or "around one o'clock"?

The correct way to express an approximate time is "around one o'clock". "Around one clock" is grammatically incorrect. You can also use alternatives like "about one o'clock" or "approximately one o'clock".

What does "o'clock" mean, and why is it important when telling time?

"O'clock" is a contraction of "of the clock" and is used to specify time on a 12-hour clock. It's important to use "o'clock" to clearly indicate the hour, especially when giving approximate times like "around three o'clock" or "exactly five o'clock".

Are there other ways to say "around one o'clock" that are more formal or informal?

Yes, you can use "approximately one o'clock" for a more formal tone, or "about one o'clock" for a more casual tone. Other options include "close to one o'clock" or "roughly one o'clock", depending on the context.

Is it acceptable to use "around 1 PM" instead of "around one o'clock"?

Yes, using "around 1 PM" is perfectly acceptable and clear, especially in written communication. It avoids the need for "o'clock" and is commonly used. Another alternative can be "approximately 1 PM".