spare hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spare hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an hour of free time that one can use for various activities or tasks. Example: "If you have a spare hour this weekend, we could go for a walk or grab a coffee."

✓ Grammatically correct

General conversation

Planning activities

Time management

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

If you have a spare hour, it's well worth a watch.

The Guardian - Sport

One morning in October a meeting was cancelled and I had a spare hour.

The Guardian - Film

Like poker players, Scrabble addicts and fantasy baseball managers, competitive cooks sometimes fill every spare hour with their pastime.

The New York Times - Travel

Here, on a Saturday night at Sadler's Wells (the only spare hour, apparently, in his entire week) he is all coiled energy and focus.

Independent

I had to change buses at Trowbridge in Wiltshire recently and spent a wonderful spare hour discovering what the town could offer.

The Guardian - Travel

The crosser she gets with our more cavalier approach, the more formal she becomes.A spare hour presents a chance to call an actress, Ingrid T.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

In his spare hours, he drove a Checker cab to subsidize his volunteer work.

The New York Times

But he spent his spare hours poring over bones in museums around the world.

The New York Times - Science

They spent their spare hours together sampling the delicacies of Asian cookery.

The Washington Post

The reality is, those spare hours in the week are not going to materialize.

Harvard Business Review

And that is why Serial is scything its way through our spare hours.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spare hour" to denote a short window of opportunity to accomplish something unexpected.

Common error

Avoid scheduling back-to-back activities with no buffer. The "spare hour" is most valuable when it's truly flexible, allowing for spontaneity or catching up on tasks that run over.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spare hour" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It denotes a period of free time lasting one hour. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spare hour" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to a free or available hour. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. The phrase is suitable for neutral registers, appearing frequently in news and media sources. While alternatives like ""free hour"" and ""available hour"" exist, "spare hour" effectively conveys the idea of a short, usable window of time. Remember to schedule proactively and avoid over-planning your ""spare hour"" to maximize its value.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

free hour

Focuses directly on the "free" aspect of time, implying availability for use.

available hour

Similar to "free hour", but emphasizes that the time is not occupied or committed.

unscheduled hour

Highlights the lack of a pre-arranged plan for that hour.

leisurely hour

Suggests the hour will be spent in a relaxed or unhurried manner.

hour to kill

Implies using the hour to pass time, often when waiting for something else.

free time for an hour

More descriptive, explicitly stating the duration of the free time.

an hour of downtime

Suggests a period of rest or relaxation within the hour.

hour off

Indicates a break or absence from work or other obligations.

extra hour

Implies the hour is additional or unexpected.

uncommitted hour

Emphasizes that the hour is not allocated to any specific task or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "spare hour" in a sentence?

You can use "spare hour" to describe a free or available hour. For example, "If you have a "spare hour" this afternoon, could you help me with this task?"

What can I say instead of "spare hour"?

Alternatives to "spare hour" include "free hour", "available hour", or "hour off", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a spare hour of time"?

While grammatically correct, "a "spare hour"" is more concise and commonly used. The addition of "of time" is redundant.

What's the difference between "spare hour" and "free time"?

"Free time" refers to a general period of leisure, while ""spare hour"" specifies a 60-minute period of availability. "Spare hour" is more specific.