unbroken hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unbroken hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a continuous period of one hour without interruption, often in contexts related to time management or focus. Example: "I managed to work for an unbroken hour before taking a short break to recharge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Here's a new record to tide you over: "Oro: Opus Primum" (Neurot), an unbroken hour of connected themes, slowly revolving and gaining force.

The New York Times - Arts

The "Gladiator" score, most of it by Mr. Zimmer alone, veers between the austere and the bombastic; on the CD, it is an unbroken hour of music, though it is divided into 17 titles.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Over two unbroken, hour-long sets, the Australian trio stirred up a sonic ocean that ebbed and flowed and swelled into great tidal waves of sound, a pulsating wash of drums, percussion, double bass and grand piano.

The Guardian - Music

Yet the sandy-coloured, multi-pocketed number is also one of Carhartt's most iconic, and its unbroken, hour-long appearance on Cooper, before being borrowed years later by Murphy Jessica Chastainn), his grownup daughter who wears it right until the film's denouement, is no accident.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He would have been even more surprised at the notion of bolting all three together into a single, unbroken six-hour span.

The Guardian

And the man filmed is, indeed, working: Mr. Ovelman hired him to stay in front of the stationary camera for an unbroken eight-hour stretch.

The New York Times - Arts

My one criticism of May's season was that The Canal Trip – an unbroken two-hour shot of a boat travelling along a canal – kept taking you out of the moment with irritating captions about local history.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Rick and Morty, if you haven't seen it, is a highly frenetic comedy that features a lot of non sequitur and barely makes any logical sense plot-wise even if you're watching it in an unbroken, half-hour streak.

TechCrunch

The record time by Charles Pumphrey stood unbroken at 1 hour 10 minutes for almost 100 years, until it was dramatically broken by Charles Chuck Sykeses in 1993 with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She doesn't grow restless or shy while Lib asks her to undress to examine her body, and she doesn't complain as the days stretch on, the monotonous chain of hours unbroken by mealtimes.

The New Yorker

I was lying on a blowup mattress in a tent that didn't meet the groundsheet and was pooling water, in a chunky jumper, having managed about four hours' unbroken sleep.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unbroken hour" to emphasize focused time dedicated to a specific task or activity. For example, "I need an unbroken hour to finish this report."

Common error

Avoid using "unbroken hour" when you simply mean "an hour" or "one hour". "Unbroken" specifically implies a lack of interruption, so reserve it for situations where this continuity is significant.

Linguistic Context

"Unbroken hour" functions as a noun phrase where "unbroken" modifies the noun "hour". It describes a specific quality of the hour, emphasizing its continuous and uninterrupted nature. Ludwig confirms this usage is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Music

20%

Film

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unbroken hour" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a continuous, uninterrupted period of 60 minutes. Ludwig's analysis confirms it is used primarily in news and media contexts, though its overall frequency is rare. When using this phrase, ensure that the uninterrupted nature of the hour is significant to the context. Consider alternatives like "continuous hour" or "solid hour" for similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continuous hour

Replaces "unbroken" with "continuous", directly indicating the uninterrupted nature of the hour.

solid hour

Substitutes "unbroken" with "solid", suggesting a full and uninterrupted hour.

uninterrupted hour

Uses the explicit term "uninterrupted" to highlight the absence of breaks.

non-stop hour

Emphasizes the continuous action by using the term "non-stop".

full hour

Highlights the completeness of the hour, implying it was entirely dedicated to something.

straight hour

Indicates that the hour was spent without deviations or interruptions.

sustained hour

Focuses on the maintained effort or activity throughout the hour.

contiguous hour

A more formal term indicating that the hour is connected and uninterrupted.

undivided hour

Highlights that the hour was spent with complete focus and without divided attention.

consecutive hour

Emphasizes the sequence of time without interruption within the hour.

FAQs

How can I use "unbroken hour" in a sentence?

Use "unbroken hour" to describe a period of 60 minutes spent without any interruptions. For example, "I require an "unbroken hour" to concentrate on this project."

What phrases are similar to "unbroken hour"?

Alternatives include "continuous hour", "solid hour", or "uninterrupted hour". These phrases emphasize the absence of breaks or disruptions.

Is it correct to say "unbroken hours"?

Yes, "unbroken hours" is grammatically correct, but it means multiple consecutive hours without interruption. The phrase you should use depends on whether you're referring to a single hour or multiple hours.

What's the difference between "uninterrupted hour" and "unbroken hour"?

While both phrases are similar, "uninterrupted hour" directly states the lack of interruptions, whereas "unbroken hour" implies a continuous flow or state that hasn't been disrupted. The difference is nuanced but both are usable in most contexts.