by two hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by two hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a change in time, often in contexts such as scheduling or deadlines. Example: "The meeting has been rescheduled to start by two hours earlier than originally planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By two hours later, everything changed.

The New York Times

They were typically off by two hours.

The Economist

The mandatory daily rest period was increased by two hours.

The New York Times

The school day was lengthened by two hours.

The New York Times

." was followed by two hours of generalized paragraphs that glossed over the excitement?

The Washington Post

Since instituting the fast-track system, wait time has decreased by two hours on average.

The New York Times

It was then cut by two hours for German TV so each episode was 90 minutes.

The Guardian

Fauquier County schools were delayed by two hours and Prince William County schools canceled outdoor activities.

The Washington Post

He said Mr. Sharon had delayed his departure by two hours.

The New York Times

It could start this Sunday if the clocks were put forward by two hours, not one.

The Guardian

The slaughter that followed, apparently delayed by two hours, has devastated the whole of Germany.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes in schedules or time-sensitive events, use "by two hours" to clearly indicate the magnitude of the adjustment. This provides precise information to the audience.

Common error

Avoid using "by two hours" to set a deadline. Instead, use it to describe a difference or change in time. For deadlines, use "within two hours" or "in two hours."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by two hours" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the amount of time something has been changed, delayed, reduced, or extended. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "by two hours" is a grammatically sound and common way to express a time difference or duration of change. As Ludwig confirms, it's frequently used in news, media, and scientific contexts to indicate delays, extensions, or reductions in time. The phrase has a neutral register and is best used to specify the magnitude of a time adjustment, rather than to set a deadline. While highly versatile, being aware of alternatives like "two hours ahead" or "delayed for two hours" can enrich your writing and provide greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two hours ahead

Focuses on the direction of the time difference, specifically being ahead.

two hours earlier

Emphasizes the time being prior by a specific duration.

a two-hour difference

Highlights the existence of a gap of two hours.

delayed for two hours

Specifically indicates a postponement of two hours.

advanced by two hours

Indicates moving something forward in time.

reduced by a couple of hours

Uses more colloquial language to express a similar time reduction.

shortened by two hours

Specifically relates to a decrease in duration.

increased by two hours

Specifically relates to an increase in duration.

extended by a couple of hours

Uses more colloquial language to express a similar time extension.

offset by two hours

Focuses on the concept of compensating or balancing time.

FAQs

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

You can use "by two hours" to indicate a time difference or change in duration. For example, "The meeting was delayed "by two hours"" or "The workday was shortened "by two hours"".

What's a more formal way to say "by two hours"?

While "by two hours" is generally acceptable in most contexts, you could use "a two-hour difference" or "a two-hour interval" for a slightly more formal tone.

Is it correct to say 'the event starts by two hours'?

It is more common and grammatically sound to say 'the event starts two hours earlier' or 'the event is starting "two hours ahead"'.

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

"By two hours" indicates a duration of change or difference, while "in two hours" specifies a future point in time. For example, "The flight was delayed "by two hours"" versus "The flight will depart in two hours".