few more hours

USAGE SUMMARY

'few more hours' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a time period that is relatively short. For example: "We'll need to work a few more hours before we can finish this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Give it a few more hours.

The New Yorker

Sleep for a few more hours.

The New York Times

Maybe I'd better wait a few more hours.

The Economist

What's a few more hours on the motorway?

Independent

Hang in there for a few more hours.

The Guardian - Sport

Reaction in blogland will take a few more hours.

The Guardian

A few more hours and it will be tomorrow.

The Guardian

Then he would return to work for a few more hours.

The New Yorker

But we're still in July — at least for a few more hours.

The New York Times

He needed a few more hours, both to process and to explain.

The New York Times - Sports

After that, I can usually fall back asleep for a few more hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "few more hours" to indicate a relatively short, manageable extension of time. For example, "We need a "few more hours" to finalize the report."

Common error

Avoid using "few more hours" when referring to significantly longer durations. It implies a short extension, so using it for days or weeks would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "few more hours" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating a duration of time. It specifies how much longer something will take or last, as shown in the examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "few more hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate a relatively short extension of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's perfectly usable in written English and appears frequently in News & Media sources. While appropriate for neutral contexts, more formal alternatives like "some additional time" might be preferable in certain situations. Remember to use "few more hours" when you genuinely mean a brief extension, avoiding its application to longer durations. By using it wisely you can express time requirements with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple more hours

Uses a different quantifier ("couple" instead of "few") to indicate a small amount of additional time.

a little longer

A more general expression indicating a need for slightly more time without specifying the amount.

a bit more time

Similar to "a little longer" but with a slightly different wording.

some additional time

More formal way of expressing a need for more time.

extend the time a little

Focuses on the act of prolonging the duration, rather than the duration itself.

wait a short time longer

Emphasizes the act of waiting and the brevity of the extended wait.

delay for a short while

Suggests a postponement, implying a wait of a few hours.

a short extension

Focuses on the concept of an extension, making it suitable in formal contexts.

postpone for several hours

Implies a more formal rescheduling or delay.

hold on for a moment

A request for a short delay. Differs in the scale of time involved (minutes rather than hours).

FAQs

How can I use "few more hours" in a sentence?

You can use "few more hours" to indicate that a task or activity needs a little extra time to be completed. For example, "The cake needs a "few more hours" in the oven" or "I need a "few more hours" to finish this report."

What are some alternatives to "few more hours"?

Alternatives include "a couple more hours", "a little longer", or "some additional time" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "few more hours" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, it's more suited for neutral or informal contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "some additional time" or "a short extension".

What's the difference between "few more hours" and "several more hours"?

"Few more hours" implies a shorter, more manageable extension of time, while "several more hours" suggests a somewhat longer duration. The choice depends on the actual amount of time needed.