business hours

USAGE SUMMARY

'business hours' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the time during which an organization or business is open to serve customers, usually during the regular working day rather than evenings and weekends. For example, "Our customer service representatives are available by phone during normal business hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While most tended to be during business hours, out-of-hours calls were not uncommon.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Available during normal business hours.

Cornell University

Or even to business hours.

Harvard Business Review

We couldn't work until after business hours.

The New Yorker

"Only during business hours," he said.

The New York Times

Walk-ins welcome during regular business hours.

Columbia University

No one makes personal calls during business hours, for instance.

The New York Times

That business hours match his kids' schedules is a plus.

The New Yorker

As usual after business hours, no one was there.

The New York Times

If you call during business hours, does a human answer?

The New York Times - Tech

The courtyards are open weekdays during business hours.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying "business hours", always include the days of the week and the start and end times for clarity. For example, "Our business hours are Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM."

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the time zone when referring to "business hours", especially when dealing with international clients or remote teams. For instance, specify "business hours" as "9 AM to 5 PM EST".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "business hours" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an adjective or adverbial modifier to specify when services, operations, or contacts are available. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

36%

News & Media

40%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "business hours" is a very common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote the typical operating times of a business or service. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It's versatile, appearing frequently in academic, news, and scientific contexts. To ensure clarity, especially in global communications, always specify the relevant time zone. While alternatives like "office hours" and "operating hours" exist, "business hours" remains a standard and widely understood term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

office hours

Focuses specifically on the hours an office is open, rather than a broader business.

opening hours

Commonly used in British English to refer to the hours a business is open.

operating hours

Focuses on the period when a business is actively operating.

hours of operation

A more formal way to refer to the time a business is open.

normal working hours

Emphasizes the typical hours during which work is conducted.

regular hours

A more general term for the standard hours of operation.

store hours

Refers specifically to the hours a retail store is open.

scheduled hours

Highlights that the hours are planned or predetermined.

service hours

Specifies the hours during which services are provided.

weekday hours

Highlights the hours of operation specifically on weekdays.

FAQs

What's another way to say "business hours"?

Alternatives include "office hours", "opening hours", or "operating hours", which all refer to the period when a business is open.

How do I properly use "business hours" in a sentence?

You can say, "Please contact us during our "business hours"" or "Our "business hours" are from 9 AM to 5 PM."

Is it necessary to specify a time zone when stating "business hours"?

Yes, especially when communicating with individuals in different locations. Including the time zone (e.g., "9 AM to 5 PM EST") avoids confusion.

What's the difference between "business hours" and "after hours"?

"Business hours" refers to the time when a business is open, while "after hours" refers to the time outside of these normal operating times.