by this hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"by this hour" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use this phrase to indicate a specific time, usually in the past. For example: "We were supposed to have finished the project by this hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

By this hour, the attacks were over.

The New York Times

Saturday 8 a.m. 4) FUEL UP By this hour, hardy local telemark skiers are heading uphill.

The New York Times - Travel

The tree-lined street brimmed with morning-faced people by this hour.

The New York Times

Baba, our cook, was blind and Nabi Khan, my nanny, was asleep by this hour, so my mother would take her time to undress.

The New York Times

By this hour, his barge had become a riverside saloon, buzzing with the supple beats of Ndombolo and the clinking of brown bottles of Primus.

The New York Times

By this hour, the extra-large bolstered dog bed -- more than five feet wide and covered in soft fleece -- certainly looked appealing.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"We appeal to the nation to stand by us in this hour of adversity and sympathize with us," the ad said.

The New York Times

Its stock is lower by 1% at this hour.

Forbes

We met Margaery Tyrell (well played by Natalie Dormer) in this hour, and clearly she's a sharp young woman who misses nothing.

Huffington Post

For his part, General Musharraf said that he had been "extremely impressed by the able and sagacious leadership being provided by Chairman Karzai at this hour of need".

The New York Times

But vegetarians be warned: by the end of this hour you may find yourself fighting an unaccountable hankering for meat.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "by this hour" to clearly indicate that something should have been completed or was expected to happen at a specific time in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "by this hour" when you actually mean "within this hour" or "during this hour". "By this hour" refers to a deadline or a point that should have already passed, whereas "within/during this hour" refers to something occurring during the current 60-minute period.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by this hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying a particular point in time that serves as a reference or deadline. Ludwig AI indicates that is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by this hour" functions as an adverbial phrase specifying a point in time, often a deadline. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English, serving to establish a temporal reference. Though generally neutral in tone, its formality can shift based on context. Common usage appears in News & Media. Remember to use "by this hour" when you mean before this time, and avoid using it when you mean "within this hour".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by the present hour

Replaces 'this' with 'the present', emphasizing the current time.

before this hour

Focuses on the time leading up to the specified hour.

up to this hour

Highlights the duration or period until the specified hour.

as of this hour

Indicates a state or condition that is true starting from the specified hour.

until this hour

Emphasizes the continuation of something up to the specified hour.

prior to this hour

Formally indicates a time before the specified hour.

leading up to this hour

Focuses on the events or circumstances preceding the specified hour.

by the time this hour arrives

Emphasizes the anticipation of reaching the specified hour.

no later than this hour

Sets a deadline or latest possible time.

at or before this hour

Provides a range of time, including the specified hour and any time before it.

FAQs

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

You can use "by this hour" to indicate something that was supposed to be completed or occurred before the current time. For example, "The report was due by this hour."

What's a formal alternative to "by this hour"?

A more formal alternative would be "prior to this hour" or "no later than this hour" to convey a similar meaning.

What can I say instead of "by this hour"?

You can use alternatives like "before this time", "up to this point", or "as of this moment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "by this hour tomorrow"?

While understandable, it's clearer to specify the exact date and time to avoid ambiguity. Instead of "by this hour tomorrow", use "by [time] on [date]".