the hour in which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the hour in which" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is most commonly used to refer to a specific time in the past. For example: "I will never forget the hour in which I said goodbye to my best friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

I curse the hour in which you were born.

The New Yorker

As it goes, in the hour in which we talk, Ferrell is unfailingly polite, friendly, thoughtful, engaged.

The Guardian - Film

In the illustration below, the red circle signifies the hour in which I am in direct contact with neurological speciality care.

The Guardian

During the hour in which Mrs Dowler gave evidence, she relived the joy of a family holiday to Mexico and Cuba in the New Year.

Independent

During the hour in which they overlapped last night BBC1's Olympic rowing drama Bert and Dickie had an average audience of 3.3 million to Superstar's 3.1 million.

Independent

In the hour in which we were gone, a CD player had been plugged in, and music blared from behind closed doors.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Her next film, The Hours, in which she played Virginia Woolf, won her an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

The Guardian - Film

They had observed him enter the rooming house during the hours in which operations at the headquarters of the numbers game are customarily carried on.

Cornell University

"The advent of the national defense boom has brought a revolutionary change in the hours in which duckpin bowling is flourishing in Waterbury," The Waterbury Republican reported.

The New York Times

In a scene in "The Hours," in which she plays a suicidal housewife named Laura Brown, Laura is in the bathroom, fighting a harrowing battle with her desperation.

The New Yorker

As the father of two young sons, he connected deeply with "The Hours," in which his character willfully ignores the problems of his family.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the hour in which" to precisely specify a particular hour when describing events or circumstances in narratives and reports. This can add a sense of accuracy and detail.

Common error

Avoid using "the hour in which" if a more general term like "at that time" or "when" suffices. Overusing it can make your writing sound stilted and overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the hour in which" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb by specifying a particular time. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the hour in which" serves to pinpoint a specific hour when an event unfolds. Ludwig's analysis indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and enjoys common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and wiki articles. While the phrase is accurate, you should avoid misusing "the hour in which" in vague contexts and use alternatives to avoid using it too much in writing. If you're looking for semantically related alternatives, you can also consider using "the moment when" or "the time that" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the moment when

Replaces "hour" with a more general term for a specific point in time.

the time that

Uses "time" as a broader substitute for "hour", simplifying the structure.

during the period when

Expands "hour" to a more extended "period", offering a slightly different emphasis.

at the point that

Focuses on a precise instant, replacing "hour" with "point".

in that specific hour

Adds emphasis to a particular hour without using a relative clause.

the instance that

Highlights a single occurrence within the hour.

when that hour arrived

Restructures as a temporal clause, changing the flow of the sentence.

the specified hour when

Emphasizes that the hour was predetermined or indicated beforehand.

during which hour

Inverts the structure slightly, placing 'during' at the start

while that hour unfolded

Adds a sense of progression or development happening in that hour

FAQs

How can I use "the hour in which" in a sentence?

Use "the hour in which" to specify a particular time when something occurred. For example, "I remember "the hour in which" the storm began."

What's a simpler way to say "the hour in which"?

You can use phrases like "at that time" or "during that hour" as simpler alternatives. For example, instead of ""the hour in which" the meeting took place", you can say "at that time, the meeting took place."

Is it correct to say "the hour that" instead of "the hour in which"?

While "the hour that" can be used, "the hour in which" is more formal and grammatically precise, especially in written English. "The hour that" is more common in informal speech.

What are some situations where "the hour in which" is most appropriate?

"The hour in which" is best used in formal writing, historical accounts, or legal documents where precise timing is important. It adds a level of detail and specificity.