more than three hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"more than three hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a length of time that is greater than three hours. For example, "I spent more than three hours studying for the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is more than three hours long.

The Guardian - Books

It lasted for more than three hours.

The Guardian

The play runs more than three hours.

The Washington Post

The FBI spent more than three hours yesterday interviewing Fordham.

The Washington Post

"I've never spent more than three hours away from him.

The New York Times - Sports

Slightly more than three hours later, the plane was cleared.

The New York Times

She spoke for more than three hours here.

The New York Times

The drive to Raqqa takes more than three hours.

The Guardian

Programs were long, some more than three hours.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Questioning on Monday lasted more than three hours.

The Guardian

President Obama was already running late, by more than three hours.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing time-sensitive events, be specific by including the total duration (e.g., "The meeting lasted four hours") rather than only indicating it was "more than three hours".

Common error

Avoid using "more than three hours" when a more precise duration is available. For example, instead of saying "The surgery took more than three hours", state "The surgery took three and a half hours" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than three hours" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by indicating duration. It specifies a period exceeding three hours, as exemplified by the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "more than three hours" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote a duration exceeding three hours. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While perfectly acceptable, it's often better to use a more specific time frame when available for greater clarity. Alternatives like ""over three hours"" or ""longer than three hours"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over three hours

Uses 'over' as a simpler alternative to 'more than'.

beyond three hours

A simple and direct alternative.

longer than three hours

Focuses on the duration being extended.

exceeding three hours

A more formal way to indicate the time duration surpassed three hours.

in excess of three hours

Emphasizes that the duration is beyond the three-hour mark.

for a period exceeding three hours

More formal and detailed way to specify the time frame.

at least three hours long

Specifies a minimum duration.

three-plus hours

A colloquial and abbreviated form.

a duration surpassing three hours

Highlights the length of time exceeding the stated limit.

upwards of three hours

Indicates a duration that could be slightly or significantly longer than three hours.

FAQs

How can I use "more than three hours" in a sentence?

You can use "more than three hours" to indicate a duration exceeding three hours, for example, "The movie was "longer than three hours"" or "I waited at the airport for "over three hours"".

What is a less formal alternative to "more than three hours"?

A less formal alternative includes phrases like "three-plus hours".

Is it better to say "over three hours" or "more than three hours"?

Both ""over three hours"" and "more than three hours" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. "More than three hours" may be perceived as slightly more formal, but the difference is negligible.

When should I use a more specific time instead of "more than three hours"?

If you know the exact duration, it's always better to provide a precise figure (e.g., "three and a half hours") rather than using the less specific phrase "more than three hours". This gives your audience a clearer understanding of the time involved.