hours away from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hours away from" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a time in the near future or when expressing how close an event is to taking place. For example, you could say, "We are only two hours away from the start of the concert."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hours away from filing bankruptcy.

The New York Times

"I've never spent more than three hours away from him.

The New York Times - Sports

The Lakers are still 48 hours away from true concern.

The New York Times - Sports

-- are also small towns hours away from urban areas.

The New York Times

Also, longer working hours away from homes have shifted water demand from homes to commercial establishments and institutions.

Journal of Hydrology

And it's only a few hours away from New York City.

Cornell University

I do a lot of driving to visit ranchers who are hours away from everything.

Stanford University

He gets around mostly by wheelchair, his hours away from baseball consumed by physical rehabilitation.

The New York Times - Sports

Nobody wants to mention that they are hours away from being sent back to war.

The New York Times - Books

"Two hours away from home, it's my hometown team," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

And all this but eight or nine hours away from the front by express train.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hours away from" to create a sense of anticipation or urgency regarding an event or location. For example, "The team is just a few "hours away from" the championship game, and excitement is building."

Common error

Avoid using "hours away from" when referring to abstract concepts or metaphorical distances. This phrase is best suited for describing concrete distances, whether temporal or spatial. For example, instead of saying 'Success is "hours away from" hard work,' consider 'Success is the result of hard work.'

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hours away from" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating the temporal or spatial distance. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

20%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hours away from" is a versatile and commonly used prepositional phrase that indicates nearness in either time or space. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely accepted. It's most frequently found in News & Media, Academia and Science, conveying a sense of anticipation or urgency. When using the phrase, ensure you're referring to concrete distances, whether temporal or spatial, and consider related phrases like "a short distance from" or "just around the corner from" for slight variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not far off from

Expresses that something will happen or appear soon.

just around the corner from

Suggests immediate or very near occurrence or location.

a short distance from

Focuses on physical proximity rather than temporal nearness.

fast approaching

Highlights the quick arrival of something.

in close proximity to

Emphasizes closeness in a more formal tone.

drawing near to

Implies that something is approaching closer over time.

rapidly approaching

Emphasizes the speed at which something is getting closer.

on the verge of

Indicates being very close to a specific state or event, usually impending.

within reach of

Indicates something can be achieved or accessed shortly.

imminent

Indicates something is about to happen very soon.

FAQs

How can I use "hours away from" in a sentence?

You can use "hours away from" to describe something that will happen or a place that you will arrive at in a few hours. For example, "We are just a few "hours away from" the weekend", or "The cabin is only two "hours away from" the city".

What can I say instead of "hours away from"?

You can use alternatives like "a short distance from", "not far off from", or "just around the corner from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hour away from" instead of "hours away from"?

Using "hour away from" is grammatically correct when referring to a single hour. However, "hours away from" is more frequently used to suggest a period of several hours.

What is the difference between "minutes away from" and "hours away from"?

"Minutes away from" indicates a very short time until something happens or a very short distance to a place. "Hours away from" indicates a longer timeframe or distance. The choice depends on the specific context.