total hours

USAGE SUMMARY

"total hours" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to the total amount of hours that have been spent or worked on something. For example, "I worked a total of 35 hours this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Regarding the co-pilot, did he have only 200 total hours of flying ever?

The New York Times

Instead, if total hours worked are the same, pay the same.

Harvard Business Review

The total hours volunteered by alumni each month is equivalent to 6,575 full-time jobs.

Harvard University

total hours of interviews: 27 hours 20 minutes; transcripts: 670 pages.

Columbia University

See the schedules below for exam-specific details on total hours and final deadline dates.

Harvard University

Total hours worked grew at only a 2% annual rate in the first quarter.

The Economist

Total hours worked are rising much more rapidly than total jobs.

The New York Times

We find that constraints on workweek length have different consequences for total hours than for total labor services.

Review of Economic Dynamics

Most of the 277,000 jobs were canceled out by a decline in total hours worked and total weekly pay.

The New York Times

I think we came up with something like eleven total hours of skiing on snow a year.

The New Yorker

"Total hours worked in July were less than the average worked in the second quarter," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting effort or resource allocation, always specify the unit of time clearly. Using "total hours" leaves no ambiguity.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "total hours" with the intensity or effectiveness of the work done within those hours. Focus on the quantity of time, not necessarily the quality of work.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total hours" functions as a quantifier, specifying the duration or amount of time. As Ludwig AI states, this is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It is often used as a noun phrase to indicate the sum of hours.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total hours" is a common and correct phrase used to quantify time spent on various activities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s widely accepted and understood across numerous contexts. It functions as a quantifier and serves to provide a specific measurement of time, particularly in news, scientific, and academic fields. When using "total hours", ensure you provide sufficient context about the activity and period involved. Remember to focus on the quantity of time, not necessarily the quality of work performed within those hours. Consider alternatives such as "aggregate hours" or "overall time" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aggregate hours

Emphasizes the combined sum of hours from different sources or activities.

cumulative hours

Highlights the accumulating nature of the hours over a period.

overall hours

Indicates the complete duration or time commitment.

combined hours

Stresses the merging of individual hour counts into a final number.

total time

Uses a broader term, focusing on time in general rather than specifically hours.

duration

Refers to the length of time something lasts, often used in a more formal context.

time spent

Highlights the act of dedicating time to an activity.

hours invested

Suggests that the hours were devoted to something with an expected return or value.

clocked hours

Implies that the hours were formally recorded or tracked.

man-hours

Represents the amount of work that one person can do in one hour; useful in business settings.

FAQs

How is "total hours" typically used in a sentence?

"Total hours" is used to quantify time spent on an activity. For example, "The project required a "total of" 500 hours to complete" or "I worked a "total of" 40 hours this week."

What are some alternatives to using "total hours"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "aggregate hours", "cumulative hours", or simply "total time" to express the same idea.

Is it better to say "total hours" or "total time"?

Both "total hours" and "total time" are grammatically correct. "Total hours" is more specific, focusing solely on hours, while "total time" is a broader term that could include minutes, days, or years.

What information should I include when reporting "total hours"?

When reporting "total hours", provide context such as the activity to which the hours were dedicated, the period over which the hours were accumulated, and any relevant details about the work performed.