hours of labor

USAGE SUMMARY

"hours of labor" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when talking about the amount of time spent working, or when referring to a worker's labor rights. For example, "The law limits the number of hours of labor that can be performed in a single day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They save us hours upon hours of labor.

The New York Times

We have two hours of labor in a refrigerator.

The New Yorker

Not only hours of labor were fixed, but prices, too.

The New Yorker

Breakfast was followed by three hours of labor.

The New Yorker

She'd gone through almost forty hours of labor and a Cesarean section.

The New Yorker

(They will be paid overtime for more than 40 hours of labor per week).

The New York Times

The first twin had been born after almost 72 hours of labor, one month prematurely.

The New York Times

So the current levels effectively limit a worker to just a few hours of labor.

The New York Times

It cost them under $1,000, and hundreds of hours of labor.

The New York Times

The birth attendant who handled the first twelve hours of labor?

The New Yorker

It took 50 hours of labor to build an interior door on the Lady Linda.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing labor costs or productivity, be specific about whether you're referring to gross "hours of labor" or net productive time. Always consider factors like breaks, training, and downtime.

Common error

Avoid using "hours of labor" interchangeably with labor costs. While related, labor costs include wages, benefits, and other expenses, while "hours of labor" strictly refers to the time spent working.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hours of labor" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It quantifies the amount of time dedicated to work or effort. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, such as calculating project costs or describing the duration of a task.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hours of labor" is a grammatically correct and widely used noun phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It quantifies time spent working and is employed across diverse contexts, notably in news, scientific, and business domains. While alternatives like "working hours" and "labor time" exist, "hours of labor" maintains broad applicability. It is important to distinguish between "hours of labor" (time spent) and labor costs (total expenses). Usage is consistent, making it a reliable term for discussions involving productivity and time investment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working hours

Focuses specifically on the time spent at work, often in a regulated or scheduled context.

time spent working

A more general way to describe the duration of work activities, applicable in various situations.

labor time

Emphasizes the economic aspect of work, often used in business or economic contexts.

man hours

Focuses on the amount of work done by one person in one hour; often used in project management.

personnel time

Refers to the time invested by staff or employees in performing tasks.

work period

Highlights a specific duration dedicated to work-related activities, with a focus on the timeframe.

time on task

Indicates the period dedicated to completing a specific task or project.

duration of employment

Focuses more on the length of time someone is employed, rather than the specific hours worked.

service time

Specifically refers to the time spent providing a service, often used in customer service or hospitality contexts.

staff hours

Highlights the total time contributed by staff members, usually in a business or organizational setting.

FAQs

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

You can use "hours of labor" to describe the amount of time spent on a task, for example: "The project required hundreds of "hours of labor" to complete."

What is another way to say "hours of labor"?

Alternatives to "hours of labor" include "working hours", "time spent working", or "labor time" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "hours of labour" or "hours of labor"?

"Hours of labor" is the standard spelling in American English, while "hours of labour" is the British English spelling. Both are grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "hours of labor" and "labor costs"?

"Hours of labor" refers to the amount of time spent working, whereas "labor costs" includes the total expenses associated with employing workers, including wages, benefits, and taxes.