two hours in advance of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two hours in advance of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something should be done or scheduled two hours before a specific time or event. Example: "Please arrive at the airport two hours in advance of your flight to ensure you have enough time for check-in and security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The county urges travelers to take taxis and limousines and get to the airport at least two hours in advance of their flights.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There is no need to arrive two or three hours in advance of a charter flight, for example.

Forbes

The first foEs bell-shaped spike also can be used for short-term forecasting, two three hours in advance of a substorm.

Advances in Space Research

UNCRO was notified three hours in advance of the attack, when Šarinić telephoned Janvier.

Wikipedia

Being Miss Organized I loved how Bayview emails you twenty-four hours in advance to confirm and the day of pickup to let you know your car is on its way, giving you the drivers name and cell phone, all those little extra touches to help cut down on any worry.

Huffington Post

We have constructed operational models for forecasting the geomagnetic storm index (Dst) two hours in advance from six parameters: the velocity and density of the solar wind, the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and the x, y, and z components of the IMF.

Advances in Space Research

You'll do best to arrive at Port Authority three to four hours in advance, so you can be at the head of the line at the gate.

The New Yorker

Hundreds of people lined up three hours in advance for a recent Morgan autograph signing at the store; Barnes said Morgan stayed longer than the scheduled hour yet still could not fulfill every request.

The New York Times - Sports

The deadline at the hotels is two hours in advance.

The New York Times - Travel

If you are snacking, do so one to two hours in advance.

WikiHow

Even when a flight isn't delayed, requirements like "having to show up for international flights two or three hours in advance" are sources of mounting frustration, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When scheduling events or tasks, use "two hours in advance of" to clearly communicate the necessary lead time for preparation or arrival. For example, "Please submit your application two hours in advance of the deadline to ensure timely processing."

Common error

Avoid assuming that "two hours in advance of" means you can start preparations at the designated time. It means you must complete necessary actions before that time, leaving a two-hour buffer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two hours in advance of" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating a specific timeframe before an event. This signifies a temporal relationship, as supported by Ludwig's examples. The phrase specifies when an action or preparation needs to occur in relation to another event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "two hours in advance of" serves as a prepositional phrase that specifies a timeframe before an event, aiming to ensure timely preparation or arrival. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news articles, scientific papers, and wiki pages, indicating broad usability. While slightly more formal, it's a clear way to set expectations for timing and avoid potential misunderstandings. For similar expressions, one can opt for alternatives such as "two hours before" or "two hours prior to" depending on the desired level of formality. Overall, it's a reliable expression for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two hours prior to

Replaces "in advance of" with "prior to", maintaining a formal tone but slightly different phrasing.

two hours before

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct and common expression.

two hours beforehand

Uses an adverb to indicate the time before an event.

two hours preceding

Emphasizes the temporal order of events.

two hours earlier than

Emphasizes the time difference compared to another event.

two hours ahead of time

Highlights the concept of being early.

with two hours to spare

Focuses on having extra time rather than anticipating a future event.

two hours leading up to

Focuses on the period immediately preceding an event.

two hours ahead of schedule

Highlights the early completion or arrangement of something.

two hours antedating

Uses a more formal and less common word for "before".

FAQs

How to use "two hours in advance of" in a sentence?

Use "two hours in advance of" to specify a period before a specific event or time. For example, "You should arrive "two hours in advance of" your flight" means you must be at the airport two hours before your flight's scheduled departure.

What can I say instead of "two hours in advance of"?

You can use alternatives like "two hours before" or "two hours prior to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "two hours in advance of" or "two hours before"?

Both "two hours in advance of" and "two hours before" are correct. The former is slightly more formal, while the latter is more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "two hours in advance of" and "two hours leading up to"?

"Two hours in advance of" indicates a point two hours before an event. "Two hours leading up to" refers to the entire period of two hours before the event, emphasizing the time period rather than a single point in time.