in late hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'in late hours' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a certain period of time at night, usually when you would normally go to sleep. For example: "I often find myself awake in late hours, struggling to focus on my work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Reed moved to New York City after college and traveled in the pop and art worlds, working as a house songwriter at the low-budget Pickwick Records and putting in late hours in downtown clubs.

Huffington Post

Many conservative pro AKP supporter now cherish him and say that "if women have head scarves, wear conservative clothes and don't go out in late hours, they won't be sexually assaulted".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

These eggs hatch in 12 to 24 hours.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He finished in 11 hours 45 minutes.

The New York Times

Captain Barclay walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours.

Cornell University

The output of China had risen from 66 hours weekly in 1950 to 1,375 hours by 1981.

Britannica

I run the route in around five hours, but others walk it in 10-12 hours.

The Guardian - Travel

While rehabilitating from a hand operation in '72, Staub put in 1500 hours working with chefs.

The New Yorker

What else can you do in 11 hours and five minutes?

Independent

Eight were Conservative politicians, one was Labour and they collectively put in 9,089 hours.

Independent

I finished in 11 hours, 12 minutes, 44 seconds — 692nd of 1,289 participants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in late hours", consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. While grammatically correct, more common alternatives like "late at night" may be more appropriate for informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "in late hours" excessively in formal academic or business writing. While acceptable, it may sound less polished than alternatives like "during the night" or "late in the evening".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in late hours" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating the time when an action occurs. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and used to describe events taking place at night.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in late hours" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to denote the timing of an action during the night. While deemed correct by Ludwig AI, it's less common than alternatives like "late at night". Predominantly found in news and media contexts, its formality is generally neutral. When using "in late hours", consider the audience and context, opting for more common alternatives when appropriate. By considering these factors, you can effectively use the phrase, while also being aware of better alternatives to express it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late at night

This alternative is a more common and direct way to express the same idea.

during the late hours

Adding "during" emphasizes the duration of the period.

in the wee hours

This alternative is more informal and refers to the very early hours of the morning.

late in the evening

This alternative specifies the time as the evening, which is slightly earlier than "late hours".

at a late hour

This phrasing emphasizes a specific point in time rather than a period.

in the dead of night

This alternative emphasizes the stillness and darkness of the night.

in the small hours

Primarily British usage, referring to the early hours of the morning.

after midnight

This is a more literal and less evocative way to describe the time.

during nocturnal hours

This alternative is more formal and scientific.

past bedtime

This is a more informal and childlike way to express the idea of late hours.

FAQs

How can I use "in late hours" in a sentence?

You can use "in late hours" to describe activities or events happening during the night, such as "I often work on my projects "in late hours" when it's quiet".

What can I say instead of "in late hours"?

You can use alternatives like "late at night", "during the night", or "in the wee hours" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "during late hours" instead of "in late hours"?

While "in late hours" is grammatically correct, "during late hours" can also be used and emphasizes the duration of the time period. However, "late at night" is often a more common and natural choice.

What is the difference between "in late hours" and "at a late hour"?

"In late hours" refers to a period of time during the night, while "at a late hour" refers to a specific point in time during the night. For example, "I prefer to read "in late hours"" versus "She called me "at a late hour"".