extraordinary hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extraordinary hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to hours that are unusual, exceptional, or beyond the normal working hours, often in the context of work or effort. Example: "The team put in extraordinary hours to meet the project deadline, demonstrating their commitment and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Continued long stretches of working extraordinary hours will cause talented people to leave early.

Harvard Business Review

"The lesson," Brill belatedly discovers, is that reformers need to collaborate with unions, if only because they are "the organizational link to enable school improvement to expand beyond the ability of the extraordinary people to work extraordinary hours".

The New York Times - Books

These crews worked extraordinary hours — 16-hour shifts in many cases — but the effort still took much longer than Mr. Bloomberg had predicted: it was not until Nov. 18 that the final buildings had heat and hot water.

The New York Times

We are not writing to make excuses, or to fill our pockets: like most teachers we know, we continue to work extraordinary hours beyond our contractual workday as part of the job.

The Washington Post

After their second trip to Hamburg, Lewisohn says, they were "bursting with the experience that only another 503 extraordinary hours on the Hamburg stage could have given them"; in a footnote, he calculates that the total time spent onstage on their first two German visits was 918 hours: "the equivalent of 612 90-minute shows… in just 27 weeks".

The Guardian - Books

A: Employees who are exempt from overtime rules can be forced to work extraordinary hours without overtime compensation.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Bordeaux had seen its last – and perhaps most extraordinary – Hour.

The Guardian - Sport

After mumbling a few words, he led his trio into an extraordinary hour-long set.

The Guardian - Books

Though her special will be shown under the bland label of the "CNN Perspectives" series, it is an extraordinary hour.

The New York Times - Arts

By the end of an extraordinary hour, which shades by turns from funny to grotesque to tear-jerking, one has seen several things that prove hard to unsee in the subsequent days.

Independent

The most unusual show is Joseph Morpurgo's extraordinary hour-long homage to Desert Island Discs in which he plays the guest - interacting with meticulously and hilariously edited footage of the Radio 4 presenter Kirsty Young - as well as all of his chosen recording artists.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of "extraordinary hours" on employees, consider mentioning specific consequences such as burnout or decreased productivity to strengthen your argument.

Common error

Instead of simply stating that "extraordinary hours" are bad, provide context by explaining who is affected and how, as vague statements lack impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extraordinary hours" functions as a noun phrase, with "extraordinary" modifying the noun "hours". As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and is used to describe work periods extending beyond the typical or expected duration.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extraordinary hours" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that refers to work periods extending beyond the usual. While relatively uncommon in overall usage, Ludwig AI examples show its prominence in news and media, as well as formal business contexts. When using this phrase, focus on providing specific details about the impact of these extended hours and avoid making vague generalizations. Alternatives such as "exceptional work hours" or "unusually long hours" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis while maintaining semantic similarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceptional work hours

Replaces "extraordinary" with "exceptional", emphasizing the unusual nature of the hours.

unusually long hours

Focuses on the length of the hours being beyond the norm.

extended work periods

Highlights the extension of the work duration beyond regular schedules.

intensive work schedule

Shifts the focus to the intensity and demanding nature of the work schedule.

demanding work hours

Emphasizes the demanding aspect of the long hours.

prolonged working hours

Uses "prolonged" to indicate a longer duration of work.

abnormal working hours

Highlights the deviation from the normal working schedule.

unconventional hours

Indicates that the hours deviate from the norm or standard practice.

irregular work schedule

Emphasizes the lack of a fixed or regular pattern in the work schedule.

heavy workload schedule

Focuses on workload on schedule more than the length of hours.

FAQs

How can I use "extraordinary hours" in a sentence?

You can use "extraordinary hours" to describe situations where individuals or teams work significantly longer than standard hours, such as: "The team worked "extraordinary hours" to meet the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "extraordinary hours"?

Alternatives include "exceptional work hours", "unusually long hours", or "extended work periods", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "extraordinary hours" and "overtime"?

"Extraordinary hours" is a general term for working beyond regular hours, while "overtime" specifically refers to hours worked beyond the standard workweek that may be legally required to be compensated at a higher rate.

Is it always negative to work "extraordinary hours"?

While often associated with negative consequences like burnout, working "extraordinary hours" can sometimes be necessary to meet critical deadlines or handle emergencies, though it's crucial to manage these periods to avoid long-term negative impacts.