tens of hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"tens of hours" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to an amount of time that is greater than 10 hours but not necessarily an exact amount. For example: "I spent tens of hours working on the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

It's become one of Brown's definitive smashes, spending 36 weeks on the US Billboard Top 100 – and tens of hours on repeat in my kitchen.

The Guardian - Music

He named his brand 4N, for the four numbers on a digital counter representing the time in 24 hours — the tens of hours, hours, tens of minutes and minutes.

The New York Times

The documents show that, in the end, the agency delivered to Weinstein more than a hundred pages of transcripts and descriptions of the book, based on tens of hours of recorded conversations between McGowan and the female private investigator.

The New Yorker

I fondly remember sitting in the living room and playing that game for tens of hours.

TechCrunch

We used a low-drift FLL to allow measurements with low-frequency drift noise up to several tens of hours.

Earth, Planets and Space

These XRF scans can take many tens of hours to complete depending on the size of the painting [19].

Heritage Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

By contrast, OI100 and OI200 produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in BGL at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th hours of post treatment compared to their respective initial levels.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The intra-group analysis result has shown O. integrifolia at 200 mg/kg produced a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in BGL at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th hours of post treatment compared to their respective initial levels.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

At the 2nd, 4th and 6th hours of ethanol withdrawal, rats were observed for 5 min, and withdrawal signs that included locomotor hyperactivity, stereotyped behaviors, abnormal gait and posture, tail stiffness and agitation were recorded or rated.

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry

Following the setting of PEEP level, we recorded arterial blood gas values, ventilatory parameters and hemodynamic measurements at 15 min, 1st, 4th and 6th hours of post-RM period.

Critical Care

In the 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg treated groups intragroup comparison revealed significant (p < 0.05) BGL reduction at 3rd, 4th and 10th hours of treatment compared to the base line BGL.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "tens of hours", ensure that the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a duration greater than ten hours but less than one hundred. Avoid ambiguity by providing additional context if necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "tens of hours" when you mean a shorter duration (e.g., less than ten hours) or a much longer duration (e.g., hundreds of hours). Be precise in your language to accurately convey the time involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tens of hours" functions as a quantifier followed by a unit of time. It specifies a duration that falls within the range of 20 to 99 hours. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tens of hours" is a grammatically correct and widely used expression to denote a duration between 20 and 99 hours. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s a valid and useful phrase in written English. It is frequently found in scientific and news media contexts. When using "tens of hours", it's important to ensure the context aligns with this duration range, avoiding ambiguity. Alternatives like "dozens of hours" or "many hours" may be suitable depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dozens of hours

Indicates a similar duration, but implies a slightly less precise estimate than "tens of hours".

a double-digit number of hours

A more technical and explicit way of saying "tens of hours", focusing on the numerical aspect.

many hours

A broader term that suggests a considerable amount of time, but without specifying a particular range.

more than a handful of hours

A more descriptive alternative, emphasizing the quantity of hours involved.

upwards of ten hours

Implies a minimum of ten hours, leaving the upper limit undefined, but suggesting it could be more.

a significant amount of time

Focuses on the importance or impact of the time spent, rather than the specific duration.

a considerable length of time

Highlights the duration's substantial nature, implying it was noteworthy or impactful.

an extended period

Emphasizes the length of the time, suggesting it was longer than usual or expected.

a prolonged period

Stresses the continuation of the time, suggesting it stretched on for longer than initially planned.

a substantial chunk of time

Focuses on the portion of time dedicated to a specific activity, implying it was a significant investment.

FAQs

How do I use "tens of hours" in a sentence?

Use "tens of hours" to indicate a duration of time that is more than 10 hours but less than 100. For example, "The project took "tens of hours" to complete."

What are some alternatives to saying "tens of hours"?

You can use phrases like "dozens of hours", "many hours", or "a significant amount of time" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "tens of hours" or "dozens of hours"?

Both "tens of hours" and "dozens of hours" are acceptable. "Tens of hours" might suggest a slightly less precise estimate, while "dozens of hours" implies a count closer to twelve.

In what contexts is "tens of hours" most appropriate?

"Tens of hours" is suitable in contexts where you want to emphasize that something took a considerable amount of time, specifically within the range of 20 to 99 hours. It's useful in both casual and formal writing when describing effort, processes, or durations.