basically an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "basically an hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate duration of time, often in a casual or conversational context. Example: "The meeting will last basically an hour, so we should be done by 3 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There was basically an hour and forty minutes, and while a lot of people didn't make it out, a lot of people did".

The New Yorker

Basically an hour with the camera on him and not one facial muscle pulled wrong: he managed endearing, broken, weak and angry within, to my watch, 15 seconds.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Alien landscapes, apocalyptic scenarios, and mythical creatures engulfed the sky in what was basically an hour-long acid trip designed by Czech projection mapping auteurs Dan Gregor and Dalibor Cée.

Vice

"The show at the moment is basically just an hour of stand-up that I hope is really funny," he says.

Independent

"You go from making basically $400 an hour to $400 a week," said Michael Park, 42, the "As the World Turns" star who won a 2010 Daytime Emmy Award for his portrayal of the good-guy cop Jack Snyder, "and you pray that there's something else down the line".

The New York Times

I would play with my Hopi friends and pay no attention to the myriad of scientists that would come every summer through the research center, because you went from 13,000 feet at the San Francisco peaks down to the bottom the Grand Canyon, basically in an hour.

Cornell University

This was a thrillingly introverted performance, consisting, basically, of an hour-and-a-half-long solo for Glover.

The New Yorker

It's been three weeks since we had a fresh episode of Survivor: Tocantins, so even though last week's rehash was basically just an hour-long version of "Previously on Survivor," nonetheless, this week's opening recap was essential to remind me who the hell these people are.

Huffington Post

At one point, she basically gave an hour-by-hour itinerary of the Gaza troubles and Iran crisis when she was Secretary of State; she told the crowd where she went, who she met, and how fast she did it all.

Vice

Each generation has become more and more electrified and illuminated as we've gotten closer to not just a 24-hour news cycle but basically a 24-hour day, where there are electric lights on all the time.

HuffPost

On a recent shopping trip with his girlfriend, he added, "I basically burned off an hour playing games while she was trying on all of her clothes".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "basically an hour" to convey an estimated or approximate duration, especially in informal contexts. It signals that the time frame is not exact, but close to 60 minutes.

Common error

Avoid using "basically an hour" excessively in formal writing. The word "basically" can sometimes be perceived as a filler word. In more formal situations, opt for alternatives like "approximately an hour" or "roughly an hour" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "basically an hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of an event or activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct. Examples show it specifying how long something lasted or is expected to last.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "basically an hour" is a grammatically correct and acceptable way to express an approximate time duration of one hour. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to provide an informal estimation of time, commonly found in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal settings, with more precise alternatives available for formal writing. To prevent misuse, be mindful of overusing "basically" as a filler word. The provided examples underscore its practical application in conveying approximate durations in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately an hour

More formal and precise alternative, indicating a time span close to one hour.

roughly an hour

Similar in meaning, but slightly more informal than "approximately".

about an hour

A common and casual way to indicate a duration close to one hour.

around an hour

Indicates a time frame that is near to, but not necessarily exactly, one hour.

in the neighborhood of an hour

More descriptive and less common, implying a duration close to one hour.

almost an hour

Highlights that the time is nearing the one-hour mark but may not have reached it yet.

nearly an hour

Similar to "almost an hour", focusing on the proximity to one hour.

an hour or so

Suggests a duration of about an hour, possibly a little more.

one hour give or take

Implies a slight variance around the one-hour mark.

in effect an hour

Highlights that the time frame effectively functions as an hour.

FAQs

How can I use "basically an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "basically an hour" to indicate an approximate duration of 60 minutes, as in "The meeting will last "basically an hour", so we should be done by 3 PM."

What's a more formal alternative to "basically an hour"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "approximately an hour" or "roughly an hour" instead of "basically an hour".

Is it appropriate to use "basically an hour" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "basically an hour" is more suited for informal contexts. In academic writing, more precise language like "approximately one hour" is preferred.

What is the difference between "almost an hour" and "basically an hour"?

"Almost an hour" suggests the time is nearing 60 minutes, while "basically an hour" indicates that the duration is around 60 minutes, possibly slightly more or less.