previous few hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"previous few hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can often be used when referring to events that have just happened within the past few hours, or to refer to the activities and experiences of the past few hours. For example: "I had a very busy day, but I was able to relax during the previous few hours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

(Belcher had been with another woman for the previous few hours).

The New Yorker

Common hypnagogic hallucinations may be visual (e.g., scenes from the previous few hours appear) or auditory (e.g., one seems to hear one's name called).

Britannica

On Wednesday night, a Green party official said about 200 members had joined in the previous few hours and there had been a significant intensification of people signing up in the previous 24 hours.

The Guardian

Two first-half goals in the space of three minutes removed the fear that the Hearts players would suffer an adverse reaction to the stunning events of the previous few hours.

The Guardian - Sport

Buoyed by a bumper home crowd – who'd spent the previous few hours watching the also-surprising Wests Tigers knock over the premiers, and drinking beer – the Warriors won 22-12.

The Guardian - Sport

(Belcher had been with another woman for the previous few hours). Perkins was smaller than Belcher: running for a household gun might have done little more than put it in his hands.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Battery life is considerably shorter than the previous generation by a few hours and nixing the GBA slot eliminates the use of all previous accessories that one might have purchased.

TechCrunch

Obdulio Villanueva, was clandestinely sprung from his prison cell (where he was serving a sentence for a previous murder) for the few hours needed to commit the crime.

The New York Times - Books

It is made in Turkish homes by boiling milk in an uncovered pan to sterilize it and to evaporate water; after cooling, the milk is inoculated with yogurt from a previous batch, incubated a few hours, then slowly cooled to room temperature before use.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This nighttime scene is a far cry from the innocuous, sausage-munching scene of a few hours previous.

Vice

Until a few hours previous, my only reference points for Jamiroquai were the video for "Deeper Underground" which routinely pissed me off throughout my teens as it aired on MTV2 between what felt like every other song, and that scene in Napoleon Dynamite where Napoleon dances to "Canned Heat" in front of an auditorium of bewildered but also extremely impressed peers.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a sequence of events, "previous few hours" is helpful to show how the events relate to one another. For example: "After a series of setbacks, the team worked diligently in the previous few hours, ultimately achieving a successful outcome."

Common error

Avoid using "previous few hours" when the timeframe overlaps with another explicitly stated period. For example, avoid saying "In the previous few hours this morning..." because "this morning" already provides a timeframe. Instead, simply say "In the previous few hours" or "This morning...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous few hours" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the timeframe in which an action occurred or a state existed. It indicates a period immediately preceding the moment of speaking or writing. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previous few hours" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier, providing temporal context. It is most frequently encountered in news and media, as well as scientific writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and correctly used in numerous reliable sources. To enhance clarity, avoid overlapping timeframes and consider alternatives like "last few hours" or "past few hours" to maintain precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last few hours

Focuses on the immediate past, emphasizing the finality of the timeframe.

past few hours

Similar meaning, but slightly more general in indicating a period that has elapsed.

in the last hours

Stresses that something occurred within a closing window of time.

preceding few hours

More formal and emphasizes the sequence of events, indicating what came directly before.

recent hours

Highlights the recency of the time period, rather than specifying the number of hours.

earlier hours

Broader reference to an earlier part of the day, without specific emphasis on 'few'.

just hours ago

Emphasizes how recently something happened, often implying surprise or immediacy.

hours before

Indicates a timeframe leading up to a specific event.

the hours leading up to

Focuses on the time period as preparation or anticipation for something.

shortly before

Indicates that something happened not long ago, without specifying the length of time in hours.

FAQs

How can I use "previous few hours" in a sentence?

Use "previous few hours" to refer to a period immediately before the current moment or event. For example, "The market volatility increased significantly during the "previous few hours"."

What's a good alternative to "previous few hours"?

Alternatives include "last few hours", "past few hours", or "recent hours" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "last few hours" or "previous few hours"?

Both "last few hours" and "previous few hours" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Last few hours" might imply a more immediate timeframe than "previous few hours", but context is key.

Can "previous few hours" be used to describe future events?

No, "previous few hours" refers to a period that has already passed. To describe a future period, consider using phrases like "next few hours" or "coming hours".