at odd hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"at odd hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in situations in which something occurs at unusual, unpredictable, or inconvenient times. For example, "The night janitor often works at odd hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At odd hours.

The New York Times

"Hard braking", or driving at odd hours.

The Guardian - Tech

Then there is gardening at odd hours.

The New York Times

Meals came at odd hours, even for the Army.

The New Yorker

Concerts varied in length and took place at odd hours.

The New Yorker

He would stand outside on the street at odd hours, she said, watching the house.

The Economist

In other cities, factories require employees to work at odd hours when electricity is available.

The New York Times

For a while, Jones performed at the Store at odd hours.

The New Yorker

Libido comes and goes at odd hours, like a child home on a college break.

The New York Times

But they moved in and out at odd hours and seemed to have no fixed jobs.

The New York Times

Neighbors often saw him strolling at odd hours, smoking a cigarette.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing schedules or availability, use "at odd hours" to clearly indicate that times are not typical or consistent. This is especially useful in service descriptions or job postings.

Common error

Avoid using "at odd hours" when you mean "at all hours". "At odd hours" refers to unusual or irregular times, while "at all hours" means constantly or at any time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at odd hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by specifying when an action occurs. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "at odd hours" is a very common and grammatically correct way to describe activities happening at unusual or irregular times. Ludwig examples show it is used across diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific studies. While versatile, it's essential to distinguish it from similar phrases like "at all hours". When selecting alternative phrasing, consider nuances of the context in order to accurately emphasize either the irregularity or inconvenience of the timing. It is used in neutral register and can be considered appropriate for various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at unusual times

Replaces "hours" with the broader term "times", emphasizing the irregularity rather than specific times of day.

at irregular hours

Substitutes "odd" with "irregular", highlighting the lack of a fixed schedule.

at strange times

Uses "strange" instead of "odd", conveying a sense of peculiarity or unfamiliarity.

at awkward times

Replaces "odd" with "awkward", focusing on the inconvenience or inappropriateness of the timing.

at inconvenient times

Emphasizes the difficulty or trouble caused by the timing.

during off-peak hours

Focuses on times outside the busiest or most common periods.

outside normal working hours

Specifically refers to times outside the typical workday.

during unconventional hours

Uses "unconventional" to highlight the departure from standard or expected times.

at unscheduled times

Emphasizes the lack of a set plan or timetable.

randomly

This adverb captures the sense of unpredictability but loses the specific reference to time.

FAQs

How can I use "at odd hours" in a sentence?

You can use "at odd hours" to describe activities or events happening at unusual or irregular times. For example, "The store is open "at odd hours" to accommodate late-night shoppers."

What's the difference between "at odd hours" and "at unusual hours"?

"At odd hours" and "at unusual hours" are very similar. "At unusual hours" might slightly emphasize the unexpected nature of the timing, while "at odd hours" might suggest times that are simply not part of a regular schedule.

What can I say instead of "at odd hours"?

Alternatives to "at odd hours" include "at irregular times", "at unconventional hours", or "during off-peak hours", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in odd hours" instead of "at odd hours"?

The correct preposition to use with "odd hours" is "at", not "in". Therefore, "at odd hours" is the grammatically correct and idiomatic phrase.