around the hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"around the hour" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a general time or in anticipation of a time near the hour. For example: "I am usually available around the hour of 5 pm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Rodgers called upon Jordon Ibe around the hour to give Roberto Firmino a breather.

Independent

Around the hour Boris unleashed the tale of the Aussie paramedics.

The Guardian - Opinion

And on most days, around the hour the early games reach halftime, White needs to lie down for a nap.

The New York Times - Sports

During the day, shows are geared around the hour, the half-hour; guests are vetted professionals; producers check details.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Plainly, Pepe's dismissal around the hour mark wrecked Mourinho's plot to blitz Barcelona in the final 20 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

Between times, Jérémie Aliadière, a substitute around the hour for the ineffective Leroy Lita, scored two beauties.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

The capitulation, when it came around the hour-mark, shredded what little confidence remained.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet, to gasps of astonishment from the sidelines, they would ship three in 16 minutes around the hour-mark.

The Guardian - Sport

The natural order eventually reasserted itself, the World Cup runners-up finding their range around the hour-mark and then mustering a late riposte just as the home support revelled in unlikely parity.

The Guardian - Sport

To lose the plot around the hour-and-20-minute mark is a common failing – but to do so without abandoning your core conceit is, if not flying, then at least falling with style.

The Guardian - Film

"My day revolves around the hours between 7 p.m. and 10 30," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "around the hour" when you want to indicate a general timeframe rather than a precise moment. For instance, "The meeting will start around the hour of 2 PM" gives attendees a reasonable expectation without committing to a specific minute.

Common error

Avoid using "around the hour" when a precise time is known or necessary. If you know the meeting starts at 2:05 PM, stating "around the hour of 2 PM" would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "around the hour" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action takes place. This phrase specifies an approximate time, as validated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

37%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "around the hour" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase to denote approximate times, commonly found in news, sports, and general media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and useful for conveying estimations. When writing, it is important to maintain a neutral tone and use it where an exact time is not critical. Though generally versatile, consider approximately one hour or close to the hour for more formal situations. While frequent, remember to be precise when accuracy is paramount and avoid using the phrase when you have exact timing information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately one hour

Replaces "around" with a more explicit term for approximation, focusing on duration.

in about an hour

Indicates a point in the future, maintaining the approximate nature.

close to the hour

Highlights proximity to a specific hour mark.

near the hour

Similar to "close to the hour", but with a slightly broader sense of nearness.

roughly an hour from now

Emphasizes the estimation and future aspect.

within an hour

Specifies a time limit, implying something will happen before the hour is up.

at approximately the hour

Adds formality to the approximation.

at about the hour

A slightly less formal variant of "at approximately the hour".

give or take an hour

Explicitly allows for variation around the time.

in the vicinity of an hour

Uses more descriptive language to convey the idea of approximation.

FAQs

How can I use "around the hour" in a sentence?

You can use "around the hour" to indicate a general timeframe close to a specific hour. For example, "The presentation is scheduled to begin "around the hour"."

What's a more formal way to say "around the hour"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "at approximately the hour".

Which is correct: "around the hour" or "at the hour"?

"Around the hour" implies an approximate time, while "at the hour" suggests a precise moment. Use ""around the hour"" when you mean "near to" or "close to" a particular hour.

What can I say instead of "around the hour"?

You can use alternatives like "approximately one hour", "close to the hour", or "near the hour" depending on the context.