some hours ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "some hours ago" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to an event or action that happened in the past, but not too long ago. For example, "I finished my homework some hours ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Even if you took it some hours ago, this pill will still be in your system and could be seriously harming your health".

The Guardian

He added: "The decision announced some hours ago, that they are suspending their protests, was a massive admission by themselves that they were culpable for what happened here last night".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The images were published on Wednesday evening local time in Beijing, some 10 hours ago, but were not picked up by international media until the past few hours.

The Guardian

Some eight hours ago, eight more members of the TechCrunch team landed in Beijing.

TechCrunch

The infrasound was detected some 72 hours ago as it swept past a suite of detectors atop the InSight Mission lander, Cornell University planetary scientist Don Banfield told me.

Forbes

Moving away from England's news conference, here is the answer to the Question of Sport teaser we set you some four hours ago.

BBC

"Only a few hours ago, some people from the salvage company were able to go on board," Marc Saverys, the chairman of Euronav, said late yesterday in Paris.

The New York Times

About three hours ago, some users posted that things were working again for them.

TechCrunch

We were treated to some upcoming Motorola phones 24 hours ago and now we have three more.

TechCrunch

We were treated to some upcoming Motorola phones 24 hours ago and now we have three more via the Boy Genius.

TechCrunch

Five hours ago".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "some hours ago" to indicate that an event occurred a few hours before the current time, but without needing to be precise about the exact number of hours.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on vague time references like "some hours ago" if precision is necessary. Whenever possible, provide a more specific timeframe to enhance clarity for your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some hours ago" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to specify when an action took place. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and indicates its use in providing a general timeframe.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "some hours ago" is a grammatically correct and useful adverbial phrase for indicating that an event occurred a few hours before the present time. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is most frequently found in News & Media contexts and provides a general, rather than precise, timeframe. When writing, consider whether the situation calls for a more specific time reference; otherwise, "some hours ago" serves as a clear and concise way to express recent occurrence. Alternatives such as "a few hours earlier" or "not long ago" can be considered for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a few hours earlier

Emphasizes the temporal order and the limited span of time before the reference point.

within the last few hours

Highlights that the event took place during a particular recent time window.

not long ago

A more general phrase indicating recentness without specifying a number of hours.

just a few hours back

Informal way to describe something that happened a short time before the current moment.

earlier today

Specifies that the event happened during the current day, though it might not have been very recent.

in the preceding hours

Highlights a series of actions or occurrences prior to a specific time.

a short while ago

Emphasizes a brief duration between the event and now, without being precise.

in recent hours

Focuses on a set of events or changes that have occurred in the immediately past hours.

within the past several hours

Expresses that the timing of the event occurred in the last hours.

a couple of hours prior

Highlights the occurrence happened approximately two hours back.

FAQs

How can I use "some hours ago" in a sentence?

You can use "some hours ago" to indicate an event occurred a few hours prior to the current moment. For instance, "I completed the report "some hours ago"".

What are some alternatives to "some hours ago"?

Alternatives include "a few hours earlier", "within the last few hours", or "not long ago", depending on the level of precision required.

Is "some hours ago" formal or informal?

"Some hours ago" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more precise language might be preferred in highly formal settings.

Is it better to say "a few hours ago" or "some hours ago"?

Both "a few hours ago" and "some hours ago" are acceptable. "A few hours ago" implies a smaller, more definite number of hours, while "some hours ago" is more general and less precise.