more than two hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"more than two hours" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a period of time longer than two hours. For example: "I spent more than two hours studying for my math test."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(This one lasts more than two hours).

The New Yorker

Underworld was more than two hours long.

The Guardian - Film

No, not for more than two hours.

The New York Times

(It now runs more than two hours with intermission).

The New York Times

"Or sitting more than two hours at a time".

The New York Times

The commute now takes more than two hours, she said.

The New York Times

He had us there for more than two hours.

The Guardian

After more than two hours, he began to lose hope.

The New York Times

The meeting with the governor lasted more than two hours.

The New York Times

Makeup for some of them takes more than two hours.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The protest lasted more than eight hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more than two hours" when specifying a minimum duration, especially when precision isn't crucial. For example, "The meeting lasted more than two hours, so plan accordingly."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "more than two hours" with "within two hours". The former indicates a duration exceeding two hours, while the latter specifies a timeframe not exceeding two hours. Misusing these can lead to miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more than two hours" functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, modifying a verb to specify the length of time an action or state continues. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more than two hours" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to specify a duration exceeding 120 minutes. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It functions as an adverbial phrase of duration, often found in neutral contexts such as news reports, academic papers, and general articles. Alternatives include "over two hours" and "longer than two hours". When using this phrase, be mindful of the distinction between "more than two hours" and "within two hours" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

over two hours

Uses 'over' instead of 'more than', indicating a duration exceeding two hours.

exceeding two hours

Replaces 'more than' with 'exceeding', emphasizing that the duration surpasses two hours.

past two hours

Uses 'past' to mean that the duration went over two hours.

longer than two hours

Substitutes 'more than' with 'longer than', highlighting the extended duration.

a duration greater than two hours

Replaces 'more than' with 'greater than', specifying the duration's magnitude.

in excess of two hours

Employs 'in excess of' to formally state the duration exceeded two hours.

at least two hours and a bit

Adds 'and a bit' to indicate it was slightly longer than two hours.

for a period exceeding two hours

More formally articulates the duration extending past two hours.

beyond the two-hour mark

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest the duration went past the two-hour point.

two hours plus

A shortened version that conveys slightly more than two hours.

FAQs

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

You can use "more than two hours" to indicate that something lasted for a period exceeding 120 minutes. For example, "The flight was delayed by "more than two hours"".

What are some alternatives to saying "more than two hours"?

Alternatives include "over two hours", "exceeding two hours", or "longer than two hours". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it correct to say "over two hours" instead of "more than two hours"?

Yes, "over two hours" is a perfectly acceptable and common alternative to "more than two hours". Both phrases have essentially the same meaning.

What is the difference between "less than two hours" and "more than two hours"?

"Less than two hours" means the duration is shorter than 120 minutes, while "more than two hours" means the duration is longer than 120 minutes. They are antonyms.