mean hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mean hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the average amount of time for an activity or task. For example, "We measured how long it took on average to complete the task, which was eight mean hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I mean, hours.

The New Yorker

"I mean, hours or days?" "Days.

The New Yorker

Dysphagia frequency ranged from 3%to62%2% and intubation duration from 124.8 to 346.6 mean hours.

Chest

With only half of the mean hours of sunshine it turned out to be the least sunny spring since 1833.

Nature

Helping Dexter set up his artisanal-charcoal business would mean hours clambering up trees in spiked shoes and breathing sawdust.

The New York Times - Magazine

The screen uses a large proportion of your device's energy store; the difference between full brightness and the dimmest can mean hours more battery life.

The Guardian - Tech

A weekend that is, for one of us, a series of joyous reunions can, for the other, mean hours spent smiling gamely at relative strangers.

The New York Times - Travel

A tan does not signify a chic trip to Capri, but it could mean hours of hard labour spent out in the harsh sun".

Independent

"He'd come to the ballpark early every day — and I mean hours early — and we'd go for a run and talk about baseball," Rich said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mean hours worked per week ranged from 13 in the Danish home care sector [ 28] to 38 in U.S.-based NHs [ 22].

BMC Nursing

Almost all (99%) patients reported informal care at baseline, and while this had decreased at follow-up, the mean hours/week were not so different.

Health Economics Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mean hours" in scientific or technical writing, always specify the period over which the average is calculated (e.g., "mean hours per week", "mean hours per month") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "mean hours" to describe a single event or instance. "Mean hours" refers to an average calculated over multiple instances. For a single event, use "duration" or "length of time" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mean hours" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig shows that it's used to describe the average duration of something, as in "the mean hours of direct contact with students."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mean hours" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that signifies the average duration of an activity or event. As Ludwig AI indicates, its primary function is to quantify time in a scientific or formal context. It's crucial to define the period for the calculation to ensure clarity. While alternatives like "average hours" exist, "mean hours" is particularly prevalent in academic and scientific literature. Remember to specify the context (e.g., "mean hours per week") for maximum precision. The phrase is most commonly found in science and news contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

average hours

This alternative replaces "mean" with "average", a direct synonym in the context of calculating time.

average length of time

This alternative spells out the meaning more explicitly, using "length of time" instead of "hours".

average time

This phrase uses "average" as well, focusing on the "time" spent rather than quantifying in hours.

median hours

This replaces "mean" with "median", indicating the middle value rather than the average.

typical hours

This alternative suggests a usual or common duration, similar to the concept of average.

usual duration

This emphasizes the standard length of time, removing the explicit mention of 'hours'.

average working hours

This specifies the context as related to work, adding detail to the original phrase.

typical time spent

This highlights the time investment aspect, rather than the calculation of an average.

standard time frame

This alternative refers to an established duration, broadening the concept beyond hours.

nominal period

This suggests a designated time span, which might or might not be based on an average.

FAQs

How to use "mean hours" in a sentence?

You can use "mean hours" to refer to the average time spent on a particular activity. For example, "The "mean hours" of sleep per night for participants in the study was 7.5."

What's the difference between "mean hours" and "median hours"?

"Mean hours" refers to the average time calculated by summing all the times and dividing by the number of instances. "Median hours" is the middle value when all the times are arranged in ascending order. The median is less sensitive to outliers.

What are some alternatives to "mean hours"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "average hours", "typical hours", or "average time".

Is it correct to say "the mean hours is" or "the mean hours are"?

When referring to a specific calculated value, use "is". For example, "The "mean hours" is 7.5". If discussing hours in a more general sense, you might use "are", but this is less common.