it went hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it went hours" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something lasted for hours, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "The meeting was supposed to be short, but it went hours longer than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Tech & Media

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It went hours without crashing.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And so it went, hour after hour.

Huffington Post

In the last two weeks it goes day by day, now it goes hour by hour.

Independent

It goes hour by hour, as Anne, in the tower, laughs hysterically and talks her chances away.

The Guardian - Books

The use of diplomacy in this situation has already -- well, it goes hour by hour and day by day now.

The New York Times

It went online hours before six prestigious schools in Paris and 14 across the West Midlands, London and Cornwall were evacuated after receiving threats.

Independent

"I was at Brent Cross with the TV news cameras when it went 24 hour!

Independent

It went nearly three hours.

The New York Times - Magazine

It went on for hours".

The New York Times

It went viral within hours.

The Guardian

On and on it went, for three hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing duration, use grammatically correct alternatives like "it lasted for hours" or "it took hours" instead of "it went hours".

Common error

Avoid using "went" to describe the duration of an event. "Went" typically indicates movement or a change in state, not the passage of time. Use verbs like "lasted", "took", or "continued" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it went hours" is an attempt to describe duration, but it fails grammatically. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct. A more appropriate way to express this is to use phrases like "it lasted for hours" or "it took hours".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Tech & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it went hours" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrectness. To express that something lasted for a certain number of hours, it is better to use phrases such as "it lasted for hours" or "it took hours". While the intent is clear, the improper grammar undermines effective communication. It's crucial to choose the right expression that adheres to grammatical standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it lasted for hours

This is a grammatically correct and direct way of expressing that something continued for several hours.

it took hours

This alternative emphasizes the duration required for something to happen or be completed.

it continued for hours

Similar to "it lasted for hours", this highlights the continuous nature of the event over a period.

it ran for hours

Implies a continuous operation or activity that extended for hours.

it stretched on for hours

Emphasizes the drawn-out or prolonged nature of the event.

hours passed

Focuses on the passage of time, rather than the action itself.

it dragged on for hours

Conveys a sense of tediousness or unpleasantness associated with the extended duration.

the hours passed

Highlights the passage of time, often implying a sense of waiting or anticipation.

hours went by

Similar to "hours passed", focusing on the progression of time.

the time passed slowly

Emphasizes the perceived slowness of the passage of time during the event.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something lasted a long time?

Instead of saying "it went hours", which is grammatically incorrect, use phrases like "it lasted for hours" or "it took hours".

Is "it went hours" grammatically correct?

No, "it went hours" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing would be "it lasted for hours" or a similar construction.

What can I say instead of "it went hours" to describe the duration of an event?

You can use phrases such as "it continued for hours", "it ran for hours", or "hours passed" depending on the context.

How can I avoid making mistakes when describing how long something took?

Focus on using verbs that accurately convey duration, such as "last", "take", or "continue". Avoid using "went" in this context, as it typically implies movement or a change in state. For instance, instead of saying "it went hours", try "it stretched on for hours" or "the hours passed".