on the hour

USAGE SUMMARY

"on the hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that happens at each hour, or a given number of hours. For example, "We have an alarm that goes off every hour, on the hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"It depends on the hour.

The New York Times

Tours leave on the hour.

The New York Times - Travel

A bell tolls on the hour.

The New York Times - Sports

In the Bavarian steeple, on the hour,.

The New Yorker

On the hour, though, Fulham stirred.

Independent

as it was on the hour.

The New Yorker

Performances are every hour on the hour.

The New York Times

So, she calls him on the hour.

The New York Times

It plays music on the hour.

The New York Times

Simply baste, on the hour, every hour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

7am: Here's the on-the-hour news update.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "on the hour" to clearly indicate that an event occurs precisely at the beginning of each hour, ensuring there is no ambiguity about the timing. For example, "The tours depart on the hour."

Common error

Avoid using "on the hour" when you mean something happens during an hour but not necessarily at the start. Say "The meeting will take place during the hour" instead of "on the hour" if the event can occur anytime within that hour.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on the hour" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate when an action takes place. As seen in Ludwig examples, it specifies the timing of events, indicating they occur at the beginning of each hour.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on the hour" is a prepositional phrase used to specify that an event occurs precisely at the beginning of each hour. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It's most frequently found in news and media, as well as academic settings. Remember to use it when you need to be precise about timing and avoid confusing it with "during the hour". Alternatives like "hourly" can be used for conciseness. With a strong expert rating of 4.5 and a high source quality score, this phrase is a reliable choice for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hourly

This is a single-word adjective that means 'occurring every hour'.

every hour

This phrase emphasizes the repetition of an event each hour.

at the top of the hour

This phrase specifies the very beginning of each hour.

punctually at each hour

This emphasizes the punctuality and regularity of an event.

at the turn of each hour

This describes the precise moment when one hour transitions to the next.

on the dot each hour

This highlights the exactness and precision of an event occurring each hour.

precisely at each hour

This stresses that something happens without deviation at the start of each hour.

at the commencement of each hour

This is a more formal way of saying at the beginning of each hour.

at the stroke of each hour

This phrase uses imagery to describe the start of each hour, like a clock striking.

each hour sharp

This emphasizes the precision and lack of delay each hour.

FAQs

How can I use "on the hour" in a sentence?

You can use "on the hour" to specify that something happens precisely at the start of each hour. For example, "The train departs on the hour", or "Bells chime on the hour".

What's a more concise way to say "on the hour"?

A more concise alternative to "on the hour" is "hourly". For instance, instead of saying "The updates are provided on the hour", you can say "The updates are hourly".

Is it better to say "at the hour" or "on the hour"?

"On the hour" is the more common and idiomatic way to express that something occurs at the beginning of each hour. "At the hour" is less frequently used and might sound slightly awkward.

What does it mean when something is scheduled "on the hour"?

When something is scheduled "on the hour", it means that the event will start precisely at the beginning of each hour (e.g., 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM). It indicates a regular, punctual occurrence.