by hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"by hour" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens on an hourly basis or to specify the time frame of an action or event. Examples: - The project deadline is approaching, we need to make sure we're making progress by hour. - The museum opens its doors at 10 am and offers guided tours by hour. - The train departs by hour, so make sure you arrive at the station on time. - The restaurant charges by hour for its private event space. - She diligently tracked her daily expenses by hour for a month to create a budget plan.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

"We do it hour by hour".

The New York Times

Hour by hour".

The New York Times

Now, it's hour by hour".

The Guardian

Changes have occurred hour by hour.

The Guardian

It gets nuttier, hour by hour.

The New York Times - Sports

It must be earned, hour by hour.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

"An hour-by-hour liveblog!" I hooted.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This is an hour-by-hour situation".

The Guardian

My calendar is hour-by-hour, including Sundays.

The New York Times

But it is literally an hour-by-hour situation".

The New York Times

You can read the full hour-by-hour report here.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by hour" to describe processes or events that are measured or occur in hourly increments. For example, "We tracked the progress of the experiment by hour."

Common error

Avoid using "by hour" when you mean "in an hour". "By hour" implies a continuous tracking or repeated action, while "in an hour" refers to a point in the future or a duration. For instance, say "The meeting will start in an hour", not "The meeting will start by hour."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by hour" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the frequency or manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig provides numerous examples where it specifies a continuous or repeated action done every hour.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by hour" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase in English, especially in News & Media and Science, as supported by Ludwig's examples. It functions as an adverbial modifier to specify that something occurs, is measured, or is analyzed in hourly increments. While "by hour" is versatile, it's crucial to differentiate it from similar phrases like "in an hour" to avoid confusion. Ludwig AI confirms that "by hour" indicates a continuous tracking over time, while "in an hour" points to a future event or duration. For alternative expressions, consider options like "hourly", "each hour", or "on an hourly basis" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hourly

This alternative refers to something happening or being done every hour, differing in grammatical form as an adjective or adverb rather than a prepositional phrase.

each hour

This alternative emphasizes the individual hours considered, providing a slightly more descriptive approach.

on an hourly basis

This is a more formal and explicit way of saying "by hour", adding emphasis to the regularity.

every sixty minutes

This alternative specifies the exact time frame, making it more precise but less concise.

at each hour

This option emphasizes a specific moment at the start of each hour, slightly altering the continuous sense.

per hour

This alternative is typically used in rates or measurements, altering the context slightly.

within the hour

This expresses actions or events contained inside a one-hour period and indicates the immediacy of the process.

at the turn of the hour

This suggests that something is happening right when one hour is transitioning into another. It is an accurate descriptor of time-sensitive events.

following the clock

This focuses on events scheduled around time-keeping and can be used to describe following specific scheduled intervals.

by the clock

Indicates an action is based on a specific time reading and is generally used for scheduled events.

FAQs

How can I use "by hour" in a sentence?

Use "by hour" to indicate that something is tracked, measured, or happens at each hour. For example, "The nurse monitored the patient's temperature "by hour"".

What can I say instead of "by hour"?

You can use alternatives like "hourly", "each hour", or "on an hourly basis" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "by hour" or "every hour"?

Both "by hour" and "every hour" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "By hour" often implies a continuous monitoring or tracking, while "every hour" simply means that something happens at each hour.

What's the difference between "by hour" and "in an hour"?

"By hour" indicates a process or measurement over time, whereas "in an hour" specifies a future time or duration. For example, "The data was collected by hour" versus "The data will be available in an hour".