early evening hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"early evening hours" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to the time period in the evening that is still relatively early, typically between 5-8pm. Example: I usually take a walk during the early evening hours to enjoy the sunset.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Classes for the program, known formally as Metropolitan College but more commonly as U.P.S.U., are set up for the late afternoon and early evening hours at the University of Louisville, Jefferson County Community College and Jefferson Technical College.

The New York Times

When the wet season occurs during a warm season, or summer, precipitation falls mainly during the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Wikipedia

It has been reported to be both nocturnal and crepuscular, sleeping on tree branches or in tree hollows during the day and increasing its activity in the late afternoon and early evening hours.

Wikipedia

Since rainfall during the wet season is predominantly due to daytime heating which leads to diurnal thunderstorm activity within a pre-existing moist airmass, rainfall is mainly focused during the late afternoon and early evening hours within savannah and monsoon regimes.

Wikipedia

The schedule cutbacks "make it more crowded in the late afternoon, early evening hours, like now," said Michael Hennelly, a publicist at an association of copper manufacturing companies, as he stepped off a Delta shuttle at La Guardia on Wednesday evening.

The New York Times

Many people park in town on a residential street, walk to Coast Highway and take them to the West Street bus stop, and if you have no car, OCTA's big buses stop from early morning until early evening hours at West Street, starting off from Seventh and Channel in Long Beach and going to South San Clemente.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Yet the early evening hour, the informality and the brevity rescue these programs from pedagogical trappings.

The New York Times

NEWARK — A FEW Saturdays ago, at the early evening hour when children linger outside to wring the last fun they can from the day, a series of gunshots split the air near the corner of Chadwick and Avon Avenues.

The New York Times

Mr. Gregory started anchoring the early evening hour, then named "Race for the White House," last March.

Huffington Post

At an early evening hour, the peripatetics would retire to their quarters, have another glass of wine, speculate on the meaning of life, go to sleep and dream.

Huffington Post

The 420 picnic, held each year on or around 20 April, defied expectations by attracting relatively large numbers by the early afternoon, hours before its climax at 4.20pm.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific time-related activity, use "early evening hours" to convey a sense of activities occurring shortly after the workday ends but before it gets too late.

Common error

Avoid using "early evening hours" when a more precise time is known. Instead of saying "The meeting is scheduled for the "early evening hours", specify "The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "early evening hours" functions as a temporal noun phrase, specifying a particular period of time. As supported by Ludwig, it accurately and commonly describes the timeframe between late afternoon and early night. It modifies verbs and nouns, indicating when an action or event takes place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "early evening hours" is a grammatically sound and frequently used temporal expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It accurately refers to the period between late afternoon and early night. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for general writing and conversation. When using "early evening hours", be specific enough to provide useful information. Alternatives like "late afternoon" or "twilight hours" can be considered based on the specific context. Overall, "early evening hours" serves as a practical and widely understood term for describing a specific part of the day.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late afternoon

Focuses on the latter part of the afternoon, overlapping with the start of the evening.

start of the evening

Highlights the beginning of the evening period.

twilight hours

Emphasizes the dim light characteristic of the transition from day to night.

dusk

A single word referring to the time at the end of the day just before dark.

evening time

A more general term for the evening, without specifying the early part.

sunset period

Refers to the time immediately surrounding sunset.

early part of the night

Shifts the focus to the night, but still indicates the initial phase.

cocktail hour

Suggests the time when people might have cocktails.

pre-dinner hours

Indicates the hours leading up to the typical dinner time.

suppertime

Specifically refers to the time when supper is usually eaten.

FAQs

How can I use "early evening hours" in a sentence?

You can use "early evening hours" to describe a time frame shortly after the afternoon and before the late evening. For example, "I like to go for a walk during the "early evening hours" to unwind after work".

What's a good alternative to "early evening hours"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "late afternoon" or "twilight hours" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "early evening hours" or a specific time?

Using a specific time like "6 PM" is more precise. However, "early evening hours" is suitable when a general timeframe is sufficient and the exact time is not crucial.

What activities are commonly associated with the "early evening hours"?

The "early evening hours" are often associated with activities such as commuting home from work, having dinner, or engaging in leisure activities before bedtime.