every second hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "every second hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or action that occurs once every two hours. Example: "The bus arrives every second hour, so plan your trip accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

CSF and blood samples were obtained every second hour during a 16-hours study period and were analyzed for bacterial concentrations by quantitative cultures (lower detection level: 50 CFU/ml) and WBC on an automatic cell counter (Swelab, Åstad, Sweden).

BMC Infectious Diseases

Bar graphs showing concentrations of serum triglycerides and plasma EVs before (fasting) and every second hour after ingestion of a standardized high fat meal (panel A, bar graphs are means with 1 standard deviation, ***p < 0.0001 from fasting levels).

Nature

Urinary output was measured, and urine samples from both kidneys were collected at baseline, after 90 min and thereafter every second hour.

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Imagine a job that only paid you for every second hour you worked and threatened to have you kicked out of the country if you complained.

Vice

After cell cycle arrest by serum-starvation, BrdU was incorporated for 1 h in serum-rich medium after which cells were harvested every second hour.

Plosone

For BrdU labeling, cells were first cultured in RPMI1640 only (Gibco) for 48 h, after which serum and 10 µg/ml BrdU were added for 1h before cell cultures were harvested every second hour for 8 h, fixed in methanol, and subjected to labeling with murine anti-BrdU followed by anti-mouse-Cy3 antibodies (Amersham, Amersham Place, Little Chalfont, UK).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Consecutive sampling of aldehydes every eighth hour as well as total aldehyde sampling was performed during the first 5 days after application of the paints.

Industrial Crops and Products

N = 34 professional driver students drove in a high-fidelity driving simulator at 80 km/h for 55 min every third hour during 36 h of sustained wakefulness.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Eight blood samples were drawn each day (every third hour) on 8 days of the protocol and analyzed with respect to IL-6 and TNF-α.

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

The occurrence of aggressive behaviour, play behaviour and synchronous resting was recorded throughout the day (i.e. every third hour for 15 min during 24 h) on day 1, day 5, day 19 and day 33 after mixing.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Every third hour, you squeeze a Monopoly-race-car-sized amount onto the tips of your fingers (right hand), and then dab your ends with it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling or documenting procedures, specify "every second hour" to ensure clarity about the frequency of actions. For example, "Administer the medication every second hour to maintain consistent blood levels."

Common error

Be precise when using "every second hour." Ensure it's not confused with similar but distinct frequencies, such as "every third hour", which would mean every three hours instead of two. Clarity is key to avoid misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "every second hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of frequency, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

80%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "every second hour" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that specifies an action or event occurs once every two hours. Predominantly found within scientific and medical literature, the phrase effectively communicates the frequency of various procedures, measurements, or observations. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrasing is accurate and usable. When using "every second hour", consider similar phrases like "every two hours" for clarity, and avoid ambiguity by differentiating it from other time intervals like "every third hour". Always aim for precision to prevent misinterpretations, particularly in technical or procedural contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

every two hours

Replaces "second" with its numerical equivalent, offering a more direct expression of the time interval.

once every two hours

Adds "once" for emphasis on the single occurrence within the two-hour period.

at two-hour intervals

Shifts the structure to focus on the interval itself, suitable for technical or procedural descriptions.

bi-hourly

Uses a single word to convey "every two hours", more concise but potentially less clear.

every other hour

Emphasizes the alternation between hours, implying a skip-one pattern.

each two hours

Slightly less common phrasing that still conveys the same meaning.

at intervals of two hours

A more formal and detailed way of expressing the two-hour spacing.

every couple of hours

Less precise suggesting an approximate duration of two hours.

two hours apart

Focuses on the separation between events rather than the frequency.

every 120 minutes

Expresses the interval in minutes for technical precision.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "every second hour" for variety?

Alternatives include "every two hours", "once every two hours", or using the term "bi-hourly", though the latter may sometimes cause confusion.

Is it better to use "every second hour" or "every two hours"?

Both "every second hour" and "every two hours" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "Every two hours" might be slightly clearer for some readers.

How does the meaning of "every second hour" differ from "every other hour"?

"Every second hour" and "every other hour" are essentially synonymous, both meaning once every two hours. However, "every other hour" emphasizes the alternating pattern more explicitly.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "every second hour"?

The phrase "every second hour" is appropriate in contexts where a task, measurement, or observation is performed at two-hour intervals. This is commonly found in scientific studies, medical instructions, and routine monitoring procedures.