next hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "next hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the hour immediately following the current hour or to indicate an event that will occur within the upcoming hour. Example: "I have a meeting scheduled for the next hour, so I need to prepare my notes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We also have no way of guessing when — in the next hour? in the next decade?

The New York Times - Magazine

The next hour was crucial.

The New York Times - Sports

For the next hour.

The New York Times

She spent the next hour avoiding me.

The New York Times

For the next hour, not much happened.

The New York Times - Sports

And for the next hour, they were.

The New York Times

"So if you miss one, there's one the next hour.

The New York Times

"It was pretty nerve-racking waiting for the next hour.

The New York Times - Sports

Throughout the next hour there were lovely moments.

The New York Times - Arts

He spent the next hour cursing my boss.

The New York Times

For the next hour they did field trip follow-up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "next hour" when specifying events that will occur within the timeframe of the following 60 minutes. Be precise when scheduling or projecting.

Common error

Don't confuse "next hour" with phrases like "an hour later" or "a future hour", which suggest an unspecified time in the future rather than the immediately following hour.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "next hour" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, specifying when an event will occur. Ludwig examples show it used to indicate the immediate future. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "next hour" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to the hour immediately following the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s readily usable in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "coming hour" or "following hour" exist, "next hour" provides a clear and concise way to schedule or anticipate events in the near future. Avoid ambiguity by ensuring it's not confused with more general references to future time, such as "an hour later".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

coming hour

Emphasizes the hour that is approaching.

following hour

Highlights the hour that comes immediately after the current one.

subsequent hour

Indicates the hour that follows in sequence.

forthcoming hour

Suggests an hour that is about to occur.

immediate hour

Stresses the closeness in time of the hour.

proximate hour

Indicates the hour that is nearest in time.

shortly

Implies something will happen in a brief period, similar to the upcoming hour but with less precision.

in an hour

A more general way to express an event occurring within the span of the next 60 minutes.

within the hour

Focuses on the timeframe that something will occur before the end of the current hour.

in the time ahead

A more broad expression indicating something will occur in the future.

FAQs

How is "next hour" different from "in an hour"?

"Next hour" refers specifically to the hour immediately following the current one. "In an hour" is more general, indicating a point 60 minutes from now, potentially spanning across two different hours.

What are some alternatives to using "next hour"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "coming hour", "following hour", or specify a time if you know the exact hour.

Is it correct to say "the next hour" or simply "next hour"?

Both are correct, although "next hour" is more common. Using "the next hour" may add a slightly more formal tone, but the meaning remains the same.

Can I use "next hour" to refer to any future hour?

No, "next hour" specifically refers to the hour immediately following the present one. For more distant future hours, use phrases like "later today" or specify the time.