recent hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "recent hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the time period that has just passed, typically within the last few hours. Example: "In the recent hours, we have seen a significant increase in website traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

This criticism has drawn wider support in Canada, with the hashtag #HarperCallEgypt trending on Canadian social media in recent hours.

The Guardian

It said: "The security situation at the airport has been deteriorating in recent hours and the route to the airport is becoming more precarious.

The Guardian

It added that while maximum winds decreased slightly in recent hours, the fluctuation in intensity was expected and some slight strengthening is forecast in coming days.

The Guardian

"The resulting triple digit losses on Wall Street have been setting the pace for equity markets in recent hours," he warned.

The Guardian - Business

"Many of us have shared in recent hours anecdotes about our conversations with constituents," said Representative Nan Hayworth of New York, who was at Wednesday's meeting.

The New York Times

We are grateful to all of you who have followed us on Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit supporting us over the recent hours.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Hence it is very likely that the load value in the most recent hour is inaccurate.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

3) The Vanilla model is not very sensitive to the load of the most recent hour.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

In order to forecast the next hourly load, we first forecast the load of the most recent hour.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The other one does not use the actual load value of the most recent hour either due to its unavailability or poor quality.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

This is Part 2 of my series of posts summarizing a fascinating recent hour-long one on one interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using specific numbers when mentioning time. For example, instead of "recent hours", use "last 3 hours" or "past 6 hours".

Common error

While acceptable, overusing "recent hours" in formal writing can make your text sound repetitive. Vary your language by using more precise terms or phrases such as "in the last few hours" or "over the past several hours" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "recent hours" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a timeframe closely preceding the present. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in conveying temporal proximity, as shown in the variety of examples provided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "recent hours" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to denote a timeframe immediately preceding the present. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used across diverse sources, especially in news and media, to convey immediacy. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overuse in very formal writing and ensure contextual clarity. Related alternatives such as "last few hours" can offer variety and precision depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last few hours

Focuses on a specific, limited duration, emphasizing the immediacy of the timeframe more directly than the original phrase.

past few hours

Similar to "last few hours", but slightly more general, encompassing a slightly less immediate sense of time.

previous hours

Highlights the hours immediately preceding the current moment, creating a slightly more formal tone.

immediate past hours

Emphasizes the very recent nature of the hours being referred to, creating a sense of urgency or immediacy.

short while ago

Refers to a more generalized timeframe, less precise than "recent hours", indicating a brief period in the past.

not long ago

Similar to "short while ago", indicating a relatively close proximity in time, but lacking the specific hourly reference.

in the immediate timeframe

Shifts the focus from hours to a broader sense of time, suggesting a proximate period without the same precision.

just recently

Emphasizes the recency of events, but does not specifically pinpoint a duration of hours.

lately

Indicates a period closer to the present, but lacks the specific timeframe implied by "recent hours".

the hours just gone by

Offers a more descriptive and slightly poetic alternative, focusing on the hours that have elapsed.

FAQs

How can I use "recent hours" in a sentence?

You can use "recent hours" to describe events or changes that have occurred in the immediate past. For example, "In "recent hours", we've seen a significant increase in website traffic."

What are some alternatives to "recent hours"?

Alternatives include phrases like "last few hours", "past few hours", or "previous hours", depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it better to say "in recent hours" or "during recent hours"?

Both "in "recent hours"" and "during "recent hours"" are grammatically correct. "In" is more common, but "during" can be used to emphasize that something occurred throughout the period.

How precise is the timeframe implied by "recent hours"?

"Recent hours" generally refers to the hours immediately preceding the current moment. While not explicitly defined, it typically suggests a period of a few hours, rather than days or weeks.