put in a lot of hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put in a lot of hours" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is commonly used to refer to something requiring a large amount of work. For example: "I put in a lot of hours studying for the exam and was very happy with the result."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

[Laughs] If I was asleep it's probably because we put in a lot of hours already.

The Guardian - Music

I put in a lot of hours to make the shop look like a fruit grotto.

The Guardian - Money

I don't like my current job, but I put in a lot of hours and do it well.

The Guardian - Money

"A lot of people put in a lot of hours," said Mr. O'Boyle, a Manhattan real estate lawyer.

The New York Times

"To increase your accuracy you need to put in a lot of hours at the post, before training starts, or after everyone else has gone home".

The Guardian - Sport

"There's a lot of people here who have put in a lot of hours.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

By putting in a lot of hours.

The Guardian

Millennials also don't buy into the idea that putting in a lot of hours is a sign of dedication.

Science Magazine

What the early founders of Facebook were really doing was putting in a lot of hours, he said.

TechCrunch

The workload survey confirms that teachers are putting in a lot of hours outside of the school day, before 8am, after 6pm and at weekends.

BBC

Everyone is putting in a lot of hours and trying to salvage it.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing dedication to a task, use "put in a lot of hours" to emphasize the time commitment, which can be easily understood by the audience.

Common error

Avoid using "put in a lot of hours" when the primary emphasis is on the intensity or type of effort, rather than the duration. Phrases like "exert considerable effort" or "work diligently" might be more suitable in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put in a lot of hours" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of dedicating considerable time to a task. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples show its versatility in describing work, study or any other activity requiring significant time investment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "put in a lot of hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe dedicating significant time to a task, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It's used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to emphasize commitment and hard work. While acceptable in both formal and informal settings, more formal alternatives may exist for specialized contexts. Remember to use the phrase when you want to highlight the duration of effort and avoid it when emphasizing the intensity or type of effort. Related phrases such as "work long hours" or "dedicate a significant amount of time" can be used for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

work long hours

Focuses directly on the duration of work, less emphasis on effort itself.

dedicate a significant amount of time

More formal and emphasizes commitment of time.

invest a great deal of time

Implies a return on the time invested, suggesting purposefulness.

spend considerable time

Highlights the duration spent, less emphasis on effort.

devote countless hours

Emphasizes the large quantity of time dedicated and implies commitment.

exert considerable effort

Focuses on the effort expended, less on the time.

toil tirelessly

Emphasizes hard work and persistence over an extended period.

burn the midnight oil

Idiomatic expression for working late into the night.

go the extra mile

Focuses on exceeding expectations and putting in extra effort beyond what is required.

work around the clock

Implies continuous work without rest.

FAQs

What does it mean to "put in a lot of hours"?

To "put in a lot of hours" means to dedicate a significant amount of time to a particular task or activity, often implying hard work and commitment.

What can I say instead of "put in a lot of hours"?

You can use alternatives like "work long hours", "dedicate a significant amount of time", or "invest a great deal of time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "put in a lot of hours" or "worked hard"?

"Put in a lot of hours" emphasizes the time spent, while "worked hard" emphasizes the effort exerted. The better choice depends on which aspect you want to highlight.

Can "put in a lot of hours" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "put in a lot of hours" is generally acceptable in both formal and informal writing, although more formal alternatives like "dedicate a significant amount of time" may be preferred in certain contexts.