in the past hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the past hours" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a specific period of time that has already occurred. Example: "In the past hours, she had sent multiple emails to her boss asking for an extension on the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Here's a copy: 1.55pm: Let's take a breath after all of this hot legal chaos we've witnessed in the past hours.

The Guardian

It will take many years, probably decades, for sub-national authorities in England to reach a level of autonomy comparable to that of Scotland, particularly once it has assumed the new powers promised in the past hours and weeks.

The Economist

Rumours that Hizbullah will openly enter the fight for Arsal have raised long-running fears across Lebanon that sectarian bloodletting will follow.Arsal residents reached by phone say most of the jihadists have left the town in the past hours.

The Economist

In the past hours, there have been reports of yet another explosion at a nuclear plant, and news that the actual containment vessel of one of the reactors (not just the outer building) may have been breached.

The New Yorker

"After the resistance succeeded in confronting the (Israeli) aggression... there was a lot of mediation in the past hours," Hamas's deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said, in apparent reference to Egyptian efforts to end the fighting.

The Guardian

By monitoring both of your perspiration levels, heart rates and the way you've been speaking in the past hours, the algorithm would make a calculation of how likely it is that you'll face friction with an equally exasperated partner when you get home.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

What was new about their injuries in the past hour?

The New York Times - Sports

The legal limit, 0.08, suggests four drinks in the past hour for a man.

The New York Times - Sports

It's the most energy he's exhibited in the past hour at least.

The Guardian - Sport

3.15am GMT Sketchy information has been coming in about the missing plane in the past hour or so.

The Guardian

She seemed grateful for the attention; in the past hour, I had been the museum's only visitor.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in the past hours", ensure the context makes it clear that you are referring to a period that ended very recently, distinct from 'days' or 'weeks'.

Common error

Avoid using "in the past hours" when you actually mean a more distant period. For events that occurred longer ago, use phrases like "in the past few days" or "in recent weeks" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the past hours" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when something occurred. It modifies a verb or clause by indicating a timeframe that has recently concluded. Ludwig provides examples demonstrating its use in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the past hours" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-toned way to indicate that something occurred recently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, make sure it accurately represents the timeframe you intend to convey, distinguishing it from events that happened days or weeks ago. Alternatives such as "in recent hours" and "over the past few hours" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances. However, be cautious not to use it for events that happened further back in time, such as yesterday, for which phrases like "in the past 24 hours" would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In recent hours

Replaces "past" with "recent", emphasizing the recency of the timeframe.

In the last few hours

Specifies a short, indefinite duration in the immediate past.

Over the past few hours

Similar to 'in the last few hours', but with a slightly broader emphasis on the duration.

During the last hours

Focuses on events happening specifically within the mentioned hours.

Within the last several hours

Emphasizes a timeframe covering multiple recent hours.

In the preceding hours

More formal alternative, indicating the hours just before a specific point in time.

In the hours just gone by

More emphatic, highlighting that the hours have only just passed.

In the immediately preceding hours

Highly formal; emphasizes the direct sequence of events in the hours prior.

During the hours that just passed

Focuses on events that occurred entirely within the specified recent hours.

In the recently elapsed hours

Highlights the recent completion of the specified hours.

FAQs

How do I use "in the past hours" correctly in a sentence?

Use "in the past hours" to describe events or actions that have happened very recently. For example, "In the past hours, several announcements were made regarding the new policy".

What's a more formal alternative to "in the past hours"?

A more formal alternative could be "in the preceding hours", which is often used in official reports or academic writing.

Is there a difference between saying "in the past hours" and "in the last hours"?

While similar, "in the past hours" emphasizes that the period has fully elapsed, whereas "in the last hours" might subtly imply that the period is still ongoing or has just concluded.

Can I use "in the past hours" to talk about something that happened yesterday?

No, "in the past hours" refers to a very recent timeframe. For events that occurred yesterday, it's better to use phrases like "yesterday" or "in the past 24 hours".