spend hours on

USAGE SUMMARY

"spend hours on" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate an extended period of time spent on a particular activity or task. Example: I recently spent hours on researching the best city to live in.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I need to spend hours on court.

The New York Times

Users spend hours on the sites.

The New York Times

They spend hours on the phone.

The New York Times - Magazine

It's a debate – we could spend hours on it".

Independent

They spend hours on the telephone, soliciting campaign contributions.

The New York Times

I'd spend hours on my outfits for those parties.

The New York Times - Style

They spend hours on the porch, playing with figurines.

The New Yorker

And back in those days, I could spend hours on the phone chatting and gossiping.

The New York Times

She doesn't spend hours on it yet, so I haven't had to be heavy-handed.

The Guardian - Tech

But they cannot ignore the fact that millions of young people spend hours on these websites.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I spend hours on-ice training each day and also hours off-ice training each day," she said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing how time is allocated across multiple tasks, use "spend hours on" to specifically quantify time spent on individual activities.

Common error

Avoid using "spend hours on" when a more precise measurement is possible. If you know you spent precisely 30 minutes, specify that instead of vaguely stating you "spend hours on" it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spend hours on" functions as a verb phrase indicating the allocation of a significant amount of time to a specific activity. It typically precedes the object of the preposition "on", specifying the task or activity that consumes the time. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spend hours on" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe allocating a significant amount of time to an activity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Wiki sources. The phrase functions as a verb phrase emphasizing the duration of an activity. When writing, be precise about quantifying how long the allocation lasted, and do not use if you have a more precise term, or if the amount of time did not actually total multiple hours. You can also replace it with alternative phrases such as "dedicate considerable time to" or "invest a lot of time in".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dedicate considerable time to

Focuses on the act of dedicating time, implying a conscious decision.

devote numerous hours to

Emphasizes the devotion and quantity of time.

invest a lot of time in

Highlights the investment aspect, suggesting a return or benefit from the time spent.

allocate significant time to

Highlights the purposeful allocation of a block of time to something.

put a lot of effort into

Shifts focus from time to effort, but still implies a lengthy commitment.

be engrossed in for a long time

Emphasizes the feeling of being captivated and absorbed.

immerse oneself in for hours

Suggests a deep level of engagement and absorption in the activity.

labor extensively on

Implies hard work and prolonged effort over time.

plow through for hours

Suggests a persistent, determined effort, overcoming obstacles during the time spent.

occupy oneself with for hours

Focuses on how time is being spent and less on the end goal.

FAQs

How can I use "spend hours on" in a sentence?

You can use "spend hours on" to describe dedicating a significant amount of time to a particular activity. For example, "I spend hours on coding each day to improve my skills".

What can I say instead of "spend hours on"?

You can use alternatives like "dedicate considerable time to", "invest a lot of time in", or "devote numerous hours to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "spent hours for" instead of "spend hours on"?

No, it is not correct. The correct preposition to use with "spend hours" in this context is "on". "Spend hours for" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "spend hours on" and "spend time on"?

"Spend time on" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply a long duration, while "spend hours on" emphasizes a considerable amount of time dedicated to something. It's a matter of emphasis.