two hours preceding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "two hours preceding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a time period that is two hours before a specific event or time. Example: "The meeting will start at 3 PM, so please arrive two hours preceding that time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The aim of this study was to identify fetal heart rate abnormalities (FHRA) in the two hours preceding uterine rupture during trial of labor after a previous C-section compared with successful vaginal birth after cesarean controls.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

Hurricane force winds were reported for two hours preceding the hurricane's landfall, with numerous pressure readings below 948 mbar (hPa; 28.00 inHg).

Wikipedia

However, male mice receiving a snack of high fat chow did show increased food bin entry prior to access time and a modest increase in activity in the two hours preceding the scheduled meal.

Plosone

Finally, two consecutive washes (5 minutes and 1 minute) were performed with TCM199 with 20% SSS at room temperature before oocytes were incubated at 37°C for two hours preceding ICSI.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Jumping behavior during the three hours preceding feeding showed a similar but less pronounced trend as did hanging with significant increases occurring on days 14 and 28 only (Fig. 4F).

Plosone

During the four hours following female access the number of seconds entering the food bin occurs independently of both the number of seconds of high activity in the four hours preceding female access and the number of days of restricted female access (R = 0.1208, p = 0.8201) (Figure 3F).

Plosone

As with restricted female access experiments 1 and 2, to normalize the total activity relative to the AA, the number of seconds of high activity during the four hours preceding wheel access, dome access, or bedding disturbance was divided by the total number of seconds of high activity during the entire twenty-two hours.

Plosone

Subjects were requested not to train or exercise vigorously during the four hours preceding testing.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Among matching criteria, invasive ventilation was employed for 22 (42%) pairs, and vasopressors within the four hours preceding scanning in two (4%) pairs.

Critical Care

Serum levels of protein, creatinine, potassium and chloride were recorded during the three hours preceding ACET administration and up to 24 hours afterward.

Critical Care

At the time of scoring 60 of 267 (22.5%) patients were intubated or had a tracheostoma and 52 of 267 (19.5%) received sedative drugs in the eight hours preceding scoring.

Critical Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "two hours preceding", ensure the context clearly establishes the event or time being referenced. For enhanced clarity, consider rephrasing if ambiguity arises.

Common error

Avoid using "two hours preceding" in informal contexts where simpler phrases like "two hours before" would be more appropriate. Choose the phrasing that best fits your audience and purpose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "two hours preceding" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a specific time frame. It clarifies when something occurs in relation to another event, as shown in examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "two hours preceding" effectively specifies a timeframe occurring before a particular event. As highlighted by Ludwig, it functions as an adverbial phrase, establishing a temporal relationship with a slightly formal tone. While considered grammatically correct and usable, as validated by Ludwig AI, simpler alternatives such as "two hours before" may be more appropriate in informal contexts. Its usage is uncommon, mainly appearing in science, news, and wiki-based sources, indicating its suitability for formal or technical discussions where precision is important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two hours before

Replaces "preceding" with the more common preposition "before".

the two hours prior

Shortens the phrase by omitting "to".

two hours prior to

Substitutes "before" with the more formal "prior to".

two hours in advance of

Emphasizes the preparation or anticipation aspect.

two hours ahead of

Uses "ahead of" to convey the temporal relationship.

two hours earlier than

Emphasizes the earlier timing relative to something else.

in the two hours leading up to

Adds detail specifying the hours are leading up to an event.

two hours beforehand

Uses the adverb "beforehand" to replace the prepositional phrase.

the preceding couple of hours

Uses "couple of hours" to indicate an approximate timeframe.

two hours up to

Uses "up to" to indicate the direction of time flow.

FAQs

What is a simple substitute for "two hours preceding"?

A simpler and more common alternative to "two hours preceding" is "two hours before". It conveys the same meaning in a more straightforward manner.

How do I use "two hours preceding" in a sentence?

You can use "two hours preceding" to indicate a timeframe before a specific event. For example: "The data collected in the "two hours preceding" the storm showed a significant drop in barometric pressure."

What's the difference between "two hours preceding" and "two hours after"?

"Two hours preceding" refers to the period immediately before an event, while "two hours after" refers to the period immediately following an event. They are opposite in temporal orientation.

Is it better to say "two hours preceding" or "two hours prior to"?

Both "two hours preceding" and "two hours prior to" are grammatically correct. "Two hours preceding" is slightly more concise, while "two hours prior to" is more formal. Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.