hours of darkness

USAGE SUMMARY

"hours of darkness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a period of time when there is little to no light, such as night time. For example: "The hours of darkness were filled with a blanket of stars".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Denitrification measurements were performed in the dark after 8 hours of darkness to prevent the production of gas bubbles due to photosynthesis which may disturb the measurements.

Plosone

The dark environment consisted of 24 hours of darkness.

BMC Biotechnology

And all during the hours of darkness.

Independent

What about the hours of darkness?

The Guardian

We had three hours of darkness to get the shots.

The Guardian - Travel

And in the hours of darkness there was much counting.

The New Yorker

They may be making maturity work for them, but in the hours of darkness, deep down.

Independent

"Then the two hours of darkness you've got the Northern Lights.

The New York Times - Sports

The pallor of the so-called hours of darkness was remarkable.

The New Yorker

But in the hours of darkness, this would be virtually impossible.

Independent

Even the winds are his messengers, and they serve him in these hours of darkness.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hours of darkness" to describe periods when activities are limited by the absence of light, or when darkness itself becomes a significant factor in a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "hours of darkness" in overly metaphorical contexts where simpler expressions like "difficult times" or "periods of hardship" would be more appropriate and direct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hours of darkness" functions primarily as a noun phrase, specifying a period of time characterized by the absence of light. Ludwig provides many examples from news, science, and encyclopedias, showing its varied usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hours of darkness" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to refer to the period when there is little or no sunlight. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and encyclopedia articles, its function is to describe and provide context for events occurring at night or in low-light conditions. While often neutral to formal, it occasionally appears in informal writing. Related phrases include "nighttime period" and "dark hours", offering alternative ways to express the same idea. When using the phrase, avoid overuse in metaphorical contexts for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hours of night

A direct and almost synonymous rephrasing.

dark hours

A more concise and direct inversion of the original phrase.

night hours

Focuses on the time of night, simplifying the original phrase.

nighttime period

Focuses on the temporal aspect of night rather than the absence of light.

period of night

Similar to 'nighttime period' but with a slightly different word order and emphasis.

times of darkness

Emphasizes specific moments or instances of darkness.

periods of reduced light

Highlights the diminished illumination without specifying complete darkness.

evening hours

Refers to the hours around sunset and early night, implying diminishing light.

darkness duration

Highlights the length of the dark period.

nocturnal span

A more formal and scientific way to describe the period of night.

FAQs

How can I use "hours of darkness" in a sentence?

You can use "hours of darkness" to describe a time when it is dark, like "The scientists conducted their research during the "hours of darkness" to avoid light pollution".

What phrases are similar to "hours of darkness"?

Similar phrases include "nighttime period", "dark hours", or "hours of night", all referring to periods when light is absent.

Is it more correct to say "hours of darkness" or "dark hours"?

Both "hours of darkness" and "dark hours" are correct, although "hours of darkness" is slightly more common and can sound more descriptive.

In what contexts is "hours of darkness" most commonly used?

The phrase "hours of darkness" is commonly used in news reports, scientific studies, and encyclopedic articles when discussing events, observations, or conditions that occur at night or in low-light environments.