in the initial hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the initial hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It describes a time near the start of a given period, often used to refer to a short period of time or an event. For example: "The team worked hard in the initial hour, but their enthusiasm waned as the day wore on."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Weight loss in the initial hour was likely due to the solubility of PEO in aqueous solutions [16], and the subsequent weight loss was likely due to Fb and CS release.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the initial hours of the investigation, much remained unclear.

The New York Times

"There wasn't an organized recovery plan, not in the initial hours after the bombing.

The New Yorker

In the initial hours after many active-shooting incidents, there are often reports of multiple gunmen as authorities rush to respond to chaotic and confusing scenes.

Independent

Ms. Shriver recoiled in the initial hours after the first of three Los Angeles Times articles about her husband's sexual activities hit, several associates said.. But within a day, friends said, her resolve to help her husband stiffened.

The New York Times

"The Afghan security forces managed to evacuate 250 to 300 customers at the hotel in the initial hours of the attack, and in the morning we resumed our operation," said Gen. Ayoub Salangi, the Kabul police chief, on Friday morning.

The New York Times

The water had largely receded from Atlantic City, which was hit hard in the initial hours of the storm, though parts of the boardwalk had been blown a quarter-mile in.

The New York Times

But in the initial hours of David Cameron's appearance before the Leveson inquiry on Thursday, it was not clear what impact the latest phase of a scandal that has been making front pages for nearly a year would have.

The New York Times

In the initial hours after the tremor many of the badly injured died in the hospitals before they could even be treated, so medical staff found themselves with the task of having to clear away the corpses before they could tend to the living.

Independent

This could in theory affect productivity, especially in the initial hours of a shift.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

In particular, relatively slow solvent evaporation rate can determine an initial "burst" effect and can influence the drug permeation in the initial hours.

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or event, use "in the initial hour" to specify actions or changes occurring near the beginning. This provides temporal context and highlights early stages.

Common error

Avoid using "in the initial hour" when you intend to describe events happening throughout the entire hour. Be precise about whether you are referring to the beginning or the whole duration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the initial hour" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying the time frame in which an action occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and understandable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the initial hour" serves to pinpoint actions or changes that take place early in a process or event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not overly common, its meaning is clear, making it a suitable choice when you need to specifically emphasize the start of something. Consider alternatives like "during the first hour" or "at the start of the hour" to vary your expression and maintain clarity. Remember that this phrase focuses on the early part of the hour, as usage of this phrase is very rare but correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the first hour

Focuses on the duration of the first hour, emphasizing what happens throughout that specific time period.

at the start of the hour

Highlights the very beginning of the hour, rather than the entire period.

within the opening hour

Emphasizes the limited timeframe of the first hour as an opportunity or constraint.

early in the hour

Indicates a point in time relatively close to the beginning of the hour, not necessarily the very start.

in the beginning of the hour

Highlights the initial part of the hour, setting the stage for subsequent events.

at the hour's inception

More formal and emphasizes the origin or commencement of the hour.

upon the hour's commencement

Highly formal and stresses the exact moment the hour begins.

in the nascent hour

Emphasizes the newness and early stage of the hour.

during the hour's initial phase

Focuses on the distinct early part of the hour as a stage or period.

at the dawning of the hour

More poetic and emphasizes the beginning or 'birth' of the hour.

FAQs

How can I use "in the initial hour" in a sentence?

Use "in the initial hour" to specify actions or changes happening near the beginning of a process or event. For example, "The drug's effects were most pronounced in the initial hour after administration."

What are some alternatives to saying "in the initial hour"?

You could use phrases like "during the first hour", "at the start of the hour", or "within the opening hour" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "in the first hour" or "in the initial hour"?

Both "in the first hour" and "in the initial hour" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "In the initial hour" might slightly emphasize the starting phase, while "in the first hour" is a more general reference to that time period.

What's the difference between "in the initial hour" and "initially"?

"In the initial hour" refers to a specific timeframe, whereas "initially" is an adverb meaning "at first" or "in the beginning" and doesn't necessarily imply a time constraint. For example, "Initially, the project faced challenges" doesn't specify a timeframe like "in the initial hour."