two hours late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two hours late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the amount of time someone or something is behind schedule. For example: "The train was two hours late, so we missed our connection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her flight landed nearly two hours late.

The New York Times

Plane to Cincinnati two hours late?

The New York Times

He's often two hours late.

The Guardian - Money

School would open two hours late.

The Washington Post

His room service was two hours late.

The New York Times - Sports

The flight left nearly two hours late.

The Guardian - Money

She came home two hours late, smiling.

The New York Times

The children are coming in two hours late".

The New York Times

No problem — better than being two hours late.

The New Yorker

●Frederick County Public Schools (Md). will open two hours late.

The Washington Post

●Manassas Park City Public Schools will open two hours late.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, use "two hours late" to clearly and concisely indicate a specific duration of lateness. It's easily understood in most contexts, providing clarity to your readers.

Common error

Avoid vague statements like "very late" when you have specific information. Instead of saying something was "very late", specify the precise delay: "two hours late", providing clear information and avoiding ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two hours late" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun, typically describing the state of being delayed. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it's used to provide specific information about the duration of lateness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "two hours late" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to clearly state that something is delayed by two hours. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, prioritize clarity by specifying the duration of lateness rather than using vague terms. Consider semantically similar phrases like "delayed by two hours" or "running two hours behind schedule" to vary your language. Be careful when using this phrase in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delayed by two hours

Focuses on the action of delaying, emphasizing the cause of the lateness.

running two hours behind schedule

Highlights the deviation from the planned timeline.

two hours behind time

Similar to being behind schedule, but uses a more general expression of time.

tardy by two hours

Employs a more formal word, "tardy", indicating lateness.

a two-hour delay

Nomializes the phrase, turning it into a description of the delay itself.

held up for two hours

Highlights the cause of the delay and blockage.

two hours past the deadline

Specifies that the lateness is relative to a specific endpoint.

belated by a couple of hours

Implies a slight softening or estimation of the delay's magnitude.

off schedule by two hours

Emphasizes the departure from the intended timetable.

postponed for two hours

Suggests the event was intentionally shifted, though still relates to the lateness.

FAQs

How can I use "two hours late" in a sentence?

You can use "two hours late" to describe the extent of a delay or lateness. For example: "The train was "two hours late", causing many passengers to miss their connecting trains."

What's a less direct way of saying "two hours late"?

Alternatives include saying something was "delayed by two hours" or that it was "running two hours behind schedule". These options offer slightly different nuances while conveying similar information.

Is it better to say "two hour late" or "two hours late"?

"Two hours late" is grammatically correct, using the plural form because it refers to multiple hours. "Two hour late" is not standard English.

What does it mean when something is "two hours late"?

It means that an event, arrival, or action is delayed and occurred, or will occur, two hours after its scheduled time. The phrase specifies the amount of time something is behind schedule.