by around two hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by around two hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when estimating a time difference or duration that is approximately two hours. Example: "The train is expected to arrive by around two hours later than scheduled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There's a wireless charging case, as well, which extends the battery by around two hours. .

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hi Art! was a sort of permanent field trip, bringing the kids by bus to Chelsea for around two hours once a week.

HuffPost

The Gunners faced a furious backlash from environmental campaigners when they last travelled to Carrow Road by air, with journey times from north London taking around two hours by car and train.

Independent

Council officials, aided by police, began the eviction at around 1am, taking around two hours to remove everyone.

The Guardian

Gaza has around two hours electricity a day.

Independent

P: Yes, the crisis lasts around two hours.

BMC Health Services Research

The drive from Tirana currently takes around two hours.

WikiHow

Though Zuckerberg has declined its requests for him to personally testify — sending a number of minions in his place, including CTO Mike Schroepfer who was grilled for around five hours by irate MPs and his answers still left them dissatisfied.

TechCrunch

The leaders, said by diplomats to be genuinely committed to achieving a deal, talked for around four hours on Monday.

BBC

Brion later considered "Le Roi D'Ys", recorded in around six hours, to be one of his favorite tracks by Wainwright.

Wikipedia

The game has a play time of around ten hours.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When estimating time, use "by around two hours" to indicate an approximate delay or extension of time. For example, "The project was extended by around two hours due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "by around two hours" when a precise time frame is required. This phrase is suitable for estimations, not exact durations. If accuracy is needed, measure the time accurately instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by around two hours" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating an approximate duration or extent. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in specifying the amount by which something is increased, extended, or delayed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by around two hours" serves to estimate or approximate a duration, indicating that the actual time is close to two hours. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability across various contexts, though more formal alternatives like "approximately two hours" may be preferred in specific settings. Usage is frequent in News & Media, Science and Wiki. When precision is paramount, avoid using this phrase and opt for exact measurements. Note also that "for around two hours" indicates the total duration of something, which is different than the extension of time indicated by "by around two hours".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately two hours

This alternative uses a more formal adverb to indicate an approximate duration.

roughly two hours

This alternative uses a more informal adverb to indicate an estimated duration.

about two hours

This is a simpler and more direct way to express an approximate duration.

for around two hours

Uses 'for' to specify a duration within which something occurs.

in approximately two hours

This phrases changes the sentence structure by adding an additional preposition.

nearly two hours

This option focuses on the closeness to the two-hour mark.

almost two hours

Similar to 'nearly two hours', but with slightly different nuance.

in the vicinity of two hours

This is a more formal and less common way to indicate an approximate time frame.

spanning roughly two hours

This alternative emphasizes the duration or span of time.

in the neighborhood of two hours

This alternative is a colloquial way to express an approximate duration.

FAQs

How can I use "by around two hours" in a sentence?

You can use "by around two hours" to indicate an approximate duration or delay. For example, "The meeting ran "overtime" by around two hours", or "The delivery was delayed "delayed" by around two hours".

What phrases are similar to "by around two hours"?

Similar phrases include "approximately two hours", "roughly two hours", or "about two hours". The choice depends on the context and level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "by around two hours" in formal writing?

While "by around two hours" is generally acceptable, more formal alternatives like "approximately two hours" or "in the vicinity of two hours" might be preferred in strictly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "by around two hours" and "for around two hours"?

"By around two hours" indicates the amount of delay or extension. For example, "The game was extended by around two hours". "For around two hours" indicates the duration of an activity. For example, "We waited for around two hours".