it took hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"It took hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it any time you need to state that a process took a long time. For example: "I had to wait in line for ages; it took hours before I finally got to the front."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It took hours.

The New Yorker

"For the book, it took hours.

The New York Times - Style

It took hours to remove people from the twisted wreckage.

The New York Times

"It was laborious; it took hours; it was not practical.

The New Yorker

It took hours of work on a single, brief remark.

The New York Times

It took hours to get the new motor.

The New York Times

She salvaged the job, although it took "hours and hours".

The New York Times

It took hours for the police to arrive.

The Guardian

It took hours and hours of dripping wax".

The Guardian

"It took hours to do what might have taken months," she said.

The New York Times

It was filmed early in the morning, and it took hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it took hours" to clearly and concisely convey that something required a significant amount of time. This phrase is suitable for a wide range of contexts, from informal conversations to news reports.

Common error

While "it took hours" is perfectly acceptable, be mindful of context. If the exact duration matters, provide a more specific timeframe (e.g., "it took approximately three hours").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it took hours" functions as a statement of time duration. It indicates that a particular activity or process consumed a significant amount of time, specifically several hours. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is standard and acceptable English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it took hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something required a significant amount of time. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, the phrase effectively communicates time investment. While precise durations can enhance clarity, the phrase remains a versatile and widely understood expression. Remember that various alternatives, such as "it required several hours", can provide nuanced ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it required several hours

Replaces 'took' with 'required' and specifies 'several' to indicate more than one hour was needed.

it spanned a few hours

Emphasizes the duration over which something occurred, rather than the effort expended.

it consumed a number of hours

Highlights that the activity used up a significant block of time.

the process lasted for hours

Focuses on the duration of a process, using 'lasted' instead of 'took'.

it demanded hours of time

Stresses the high demand on time resources.

hours were needed

Passive voice construction, emphasizing the need for time.

a considerable time was spent

More formal way of stating that a significant amount of time was used.

the duration extended to hours

Highlights the length of time something lasted.

it stretched on for hours

Emphasizes the continuous, seemingly endless nature of the duration.

several hours elapsed

Focuses on the passage of time, rather than the action taking it.

FAQs

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

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases such as "it required several hours" or "a considerable time was spent".

What's the difference between "it took hours" and "it took a long time"?

"It took hours" implies a specific duration, suggesting that the task consumed multiple hours. "It took a long time", on the other hand, is more general and doesn't specify the amount of time involved.

Is "it took hours and hours" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it took hours and hours" is grammatically correct and is used to emphasize that something took a very long time.

What can I say instead of "it took hours" to emphasize the tediousness of the task?

You could say "it was a laborious process" or "it involved hours of tedious work" to highlight the frustrating or tiring nature of the task.