during work hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"during work hours" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the activities and duties someone is expected to do or fulfill during the normal working period in a day. For example: Employees are not allowed to use their devices for personal purposes during work hours.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"You have to do that during work hours.

The New York Times

It does not use its SodaStream during work hours.

The New Yorker

They see each other only occasionally during work hours.

The New York Times

People · More employees are running errands during work hours.

The New York Times

Managers warned him to stop talking about the union during work hours.

The New York Times

Mr. Kellner apparently liked to play Scrabble both during work hours and off hours.

The New York Times

Now it is Riley who wants attention during work hours, and I find I have no backbone at all.

The New York Times

He sometimes asked for the drugs and received them in his office during work hours, the report said.

The New York Times

"On my cellphone, sometimes during work hours," and, the person noted, such calls were greatly annoying him.

The New York Times

I'm not supposed to use the phone during work hours, but I call Armando as soon as I hang up.

The New Yorker

Mingling between guests and staff is not permitted on hotel property, and alcohol is strictly forbidden during work hours.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarifying company policy, integrate the phrase within precise guidelines to ensure employees understand the limitations and expectations related to their time at work.

Common error

Avoid using "during work hours" without specifying the exact start and end times. Ambiguity can lead to misinterpretations and inconsistent application of workplace rules. Provide explicit guidelines to minimize confusion and ensure fair enforcement.

Linguistic Context

"During work hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to specify when an action takes place. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it emphasizes that an event or activity occurs within the employee's designated working period.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "during work hours" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to specify the timeframe in which certain activities are expected or restricted within a professional context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to emphasize duties and activities within the normal working period. The phrase sees widespread use in news articles, scientific publications, and formal business communications, reflecting its versatility. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to define the exact start and end times to avoid misinterpretations. Alternative phrases like "within working hours" or "on company time" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

within working hours

Replaces 'during' with 'within', slightly altering the perspective to emphasize containment within the work period.

during business hours

Substitutes 'work' with 'business', focusing on the operational timeframe of a company or establishment.

while at work

Uses a simpler construction emphasizing the state of being at work when something occurs.

on company time

Highlights that the time spent is being paid for by the employer.

during office hours

Similar to "during business hours", it refers to the hours an office is open for operation.

throughout the workday

Emphasizes the entire duration of the working day.

in the course of employment

A more formal way of saying "during work hours", typically used in legal or official contexts.

during duty hours

Replaces 'work' with 'duty', often used in contexts where the person is on call or has specific responsibilities.

while on the job

Similar to "while at work", it emphasizes the act of performing tasks related to employment.

during employment

A more general term indicating that something occurs at some point while someone is employed.

FAQs

How can I use "during work hours" in a sentence?

You can use "during work hours" to specify when certain activities are allowed or disallowed, such as "Employees are expected to focus on their tasks during work hours" or "Personal calls should be limited during work hours".

What's a formal alternative to "during work hours"?

A more formal alternative is "in the course of employment", which is often used in legal or official contexts.

Is it better to say "during work hours" or "during business hours"?

The choice depends on the context. "During work hours" generally refers to the time an individual is working, while "during business hours" refers to the time a business is open. If you're talking about a specific employee's activities, "during work hours" is more appropriate. If you're talking about when a business is operational, "during business hours" is better.

What activities are typically restricted "during work hours"?

Common restrictions "during work hours" include excessive personal phone use, social media browsing, and engaging in non-work-related tasks.