good hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "good hour" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward in most contexts.
It could be used to refer to a time that is considered favorable or productive, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "I had a good hour of studying before the distractions began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Travel

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Lunch is a good hour at Balthazar.

The New York Times - Food

And so on, for a good hour.

The New York Times

Did the program run a good hour longer than expected?

The New York Times

At a minimum that's another good hour," she said.

The New York Times

It takes a good hour to walk round.

The Guardian - Travel

They were now a good hour from the village.

The Guardian - Books

But I urge you to put aside a good hour or so to absorb Bobby's story.

The New York Times

The lady said she had been hunting for a good hour and a half.

The New Yorker

"We spent a good hour and a half hour going through the safety procedures," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Conclusion: With expanded agreement we found good hour-to-hour and day-to-day intraobserver reliability with all 3 palpation procedures and good interobserver reliability for paraspinal tenderness.

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

I think it's going to be a good hour-long concert.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "good hour" to describe a period of time that was well-spent or effective. For example, "I had a good hour of writing this morning."

Common error

While "good hour" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal writing. Opt for stronger alternatives like "productive hour" or "valuable hour" to enhance precision and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "good hour" functions as a noun phrase, where "good" modifies the noun "hour". It describes a specific period of time characterized by positive qualities, such as productivity or enjoyment. Ludwig examples confirm its role in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Lifestyle

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Travel

5%

Sport

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "good hour" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a period of time that is considered productive, enjoyable, or well-spent. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is most frequently used in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for a variety of situations. Though acceptable, in more formal writings, it's suggested to choose more precise and powerful alternative expressions, like "productive hour" or "valuable hour". As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase "good hour" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward in some formal contexts, so be mindful of audience and purpose when using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decent hour

Replaces "good" with "decent", implying an acceptable rather than exceptional amount of time.

solid hour

Substitutes "good" with "solid", suggesting an hour that is substantial and uninterrupted.

reasonable hour

Emphasizes that the time is appropriate or justifiable.

productive hour

Focuses on the output or accomplishments achieved during the hour.

quality hour

Highlights the value and effectiveness of the time spent.

ample hour

Indicates that there is enough time available.

significant hour

Suggests that the hour holds importance or consequence.

substantial hour

Similar to solid, it denotes a considerable and valuable portion of time.

full hour

Emphasizes the completeness of the hour, without any deductions.

valuable hour

Implies that the time was spent wisely and beneficially.

FAQs

How can I use "good hour" in a sentence?

You can use "good hour" to describe a period of time that was productive or enjoyable, like "I spent a "good hour" reading" or "We had a "good hour" chatting."

What can I say instead of "good hour"?

Alternatives include "productive hour", "valuable hour", or "decent hour", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "good hour" formal or informal?

"Good hour" is generally considered informal. In formal contexts, consider using more precise alternatives such as "effective hour" or "significant hour".

What's the difference between "good hour" and "hour well spent"?

"Good hour" is a more concise way of saying "hour well spent". "Hour well spent" emphasizes the beneficial or productive nature of the time, while "good hour" is a simpler, more general expression.