it required hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it required hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a task or activity took a significant amount of time to complete. Example: "The project was more complex than we anticipated, and it required hours of additional work to finish on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"It required hours of backcombing to get that lion's mane".

The Guardian

Sold through Saturn dealers in California and Arizona, the EV1 could travel fewer than 100 miles before it required hours of recharging.

The New York Times

Taking personal responsibility has been the key to Finn's return and while he insists reports of "the yips" were exaggerated, it required hours of work with the Middlesex bowling coach, Richard Johnson, and the England and Wales Cricket Board's lead fast-bowling coach, Kevin Shine, to relearn the skills that once came so naturally to him.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And, with its hidden layers, bonus features and extra challenges, it requires hours of revisiting in "Free Play" mode.

The Guardian - Tech

It requires hours of phoning voters".

The New York Times

"It requires hours of preparation with coal, fire and water, which combine to produce power to make it move.

The Guardian

To be a true regular at Max Fish is hard work: it requires hours of commitment, three or four or six nights per week, and may not leave a lot of space for other pursuits.

The New Yorker

"It requires hours on hours of manual data collection, and the end result is ridiculously non-granular.

TechCrunch

But the president's job is tough; it requires hours of relentless work without sleep and asks one to make critical decisions under tremendous pressure.

Huffington Post

You might be able to create it if you style your hair, but it requires hours of work to re-create the look in the morning.

WikiHow

What they are doing is magic, and, because it is magic, it requires hour upon hour of hard work.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it required hours", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid overusing "it required hours" when more specific durations (e.g., "it required three hours") would provide greater clarity and precision for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it required hours" functions as a statement indicating the time investment needed for a certain task or activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a correct and usable English phrase. It serves to highlight the duration of effort involved.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it required hours" is a grammatically sound and usable expression indicating a significant time investment. Ludwig confirms its correctness and provides examples across various contexts, primarily news and media. While not overly formal, it effectively conveys the duration of effort involved in a task or process. Though Ludwig reports a relatively uncommon frequency, the phrase remains a clear and concise way to communicate time commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it took hours

Replaces "required" with "took", a more common synonym, slightly decreasing formality.

it necessitated hours

Substitutes "required" with "necessitated", increasing formality and emphasizing the unavoidable nature of the time investment.

it demanded hours

Replaces "required" with "demanded", highlighting the urgency or intensity of the need for time.

hours were needed

Changes the structure to passive voice, focusing on the hours rather than the actor requiring them.

hours were essential

Highlights the importance of the time spent, emphasizing that the hours contributed directly to the achievement of the project

the task took hours

Emphasizes that it was the task to take several hours to complete.

the process consumed hours

Focuses on the time-consuming nature of the process itself.

it spanned several hours

Emphasizes the duration of the activity, highlighting its continuous nature.

hours had to be devoted

Highlights the need of putting much effort into completing it.

the endeavor lasted hours

Focuses on the total hours spent on the endeavour.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it required hours" to sound more formal?

You can use phrases like "it necessitated hours" or "hours were essential" to create a more formal tone.

What's a simpler way to say "it required hours"?

A simpler alternative is "it took hours", which is more direct and commonly used in everyday language.

Is it better to specify the number of hours instead of saying "it required hours"?

Specifying the exact number of hours (e.g., "it required three hours") provides more precise information and can be more effective depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "it required hours"?

Use "it required hours" when you want to emphasize that a task or activity took a significant, but unspecified, amount of time. If you know the exact duration, it's better to state the specific number of hours.