in recent hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in recent hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events or developments that have occurred within the last few hours. Example: "There have been several significant developments in recent hours regarding the ongoing negotiations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

This criticism has drawn wider support in Canada, with the hashtag #HarperCallEgypt trending on Canadian social media in recent hours.

The Guardian

It said: "The security situation at the airport has been deteriorating in recent hours and the route to the airport is becoming more precarious.

The Guardian

It added that while maximum winds decreased slightly in recent hours, the fluctuation in intensity was expected and some slight strengthening is forecast in coming days.

The Guardian

"The resulting triple digit losses on Wall Street have been setting the pace for equity markets in recent hours," he warned.

The Guardian - Business

"Many of us have shared in recent hours anecdotes about our conversations with constituents," said Representative Nan Hayworth of New York, who was at Wednesday's meeting.

The New York Times

From where I stood, outside the fence, I couldn't see the ground floor of the Israeli building, which had in recent hours been blocked from view by large blue shields — perhaps bulletproof ones.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

References to "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Night of the Hunter" and "Carnival of Souls" are seen in a recent hour of Mr. Lynch's revival.

The New York Times

For-profit insurance can be cruel and capricious, not unlike the age of Dickens that Keith Olbermann invoked in a recent hour-long commentary.

Huffington Post

Hence it is very likely that the load value in the most recent hour is inaccurate.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The government detained Mr. Tsvangirai twice in recent days for hours at a time and blocked his rallies.

The New York Times

With them, Mr. Chávez has managed to erase doubt among followers by taking up the populist script in a way that has not been seen in Latin America in recent years, spending hours with crowds of followers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in recent hours" to provide a sense of immediacy and relevance when discussing events. It's particularly effective in news reports or updates where timeliness is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "in recent hours" in content that isn't regularly updated (e.g., blog posts). If the information becomes outdated, the phrase loses its impact and can confuse readers. Prefer a more specific timeframe or relative term like "recently".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in recent hours" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig, it specifies the time frame in which an action or event has occurred. It provides a temporal context, indicating that something happened not long before the present moment. Examples from Ludwig confirm its role in setting a time reference.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in recent hours" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate events that have occurred shortly before the present time. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and frequent usage, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's best used in regularly updated content to maintain relevance, as overuse in static content can lead to confusion. Consider alternatives like "in the past few hours" for similar meanings and be mindful of the timeframe you wish to convey, as alternatives like "in recent days" suggest a broader period. Primarily found in neutral to professional registers, its function is to provide immediacy and timeliness, making it crucial for up-to-date reporting and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past few hours

Replaces 'recent' with 'past few', emphasizing a short duration.

within the last few hours

Emphasizes the time frame ending at the present.

over the last few hours

Similar to 'within the last few hours', stressing a period leading to now.

in the preceding hours

More formal; indicates hours immediately before a specific event.

in the immediately preceding hours

Adds emphasis to the proximity in time.

shortly before now

Simplifies the expression to a more general timeframe.

just a few hours ago

Highlights how recently something occurred.

in recent times

Broadens the timeframe slightly, encompassing recent events generally.

earlier today

More specific if the current time is later in the day.

in the hours leading up to this

Focuses on the period directly influencing a current situation.

FAQs

How do I use "in recent hours" correctly in a sentence?

Use "in recent hours" to describe events that have occurred within the last few hours before the current time of speaking or writing. For example, "The situation has changed dramatically "in recent hours"."

What are some alternatives to saying "in recent hours"?

You can use phrases like "in the past few hours", "within the last few hours", or "over the last few hours" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "in recent hours" in formal writing?

Yes, "in recent hours" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in news reports and factual accounts, as it provides a sense of immediacy and precision. However, consider context. More formal alternatives may exist depending on your specific needs.

How does "in recent hours" differ from "in recent days" or "in recent weeks"?

"In recent hours" refers to a shorter timeframe than "in recent days" or "in recent weeks". Use "in recent hours" when the events you are describing happened very recently, within the same day. Otherwise, the other options would be more appropriate.