under an hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under an hour" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that something takes less than one hour to complete or occur. Example: "The repairman fixed my refrigerator in under an hour, saving me both time and money."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The commute to Boston by train takes under an hour.

The New York Times

Flights take under an hour.

The Guardian - Travel

This video runs just under an hour.

Harvard University

Then, in well under an hour, it's over.

The New York Times - Arts

Drinking a half-liter of vodka in under an hour?

The New York Times

Nearly 600 Internet orders were logged in under an hour.

The New York Times

At just under an hour, "Puro Deseo" seems rushed.

The New York Times - Arts

It can be crisscrossed on bike in under an hour.

The New York Times

From life to a skeleton in under an hour.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In the end, our captivity lasted under an hour.

The Guardian

Alessandria is under an hour away by connecting train.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under an hour", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or event is being completed in that timeframe. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "under an hour" when precision is crucial. For situations requiring exact timing, specify the minutes instead of relying on a general estimate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under an hour" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying verbs to indicate the duration of an action or event. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use. It specifies that something occurs or is completed in less than 60 minutes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Travel

13%

Arts

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "under an hour" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase of time, indicating that something takes less than 60 minutes. According to Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in News & Media, Travel, and Arts contexts. For greater precision, using specific minute counts is recommended. When using "under an hour", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or event is being completed in that timeframe. If you need to replace "under an hour", consider using alternatives like ""less than an hour"" or "within an hour" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

less than an hour

Replaces "under" with "less than", offering a more direct comparison.

within an hour

Shifts the focus to completion within a specific timeframe.

in under 60 minutes

Specifies the time in minutes for increased clarity.

shorter than an hour

Emphasizes the brevity of the duration.

in less than 60 minutes

Combines "less than" with the specific minute count.

inside of an hour

Uses "inside of" for a slightly less common, but still understandable, alternative.

not an hour long

Focuses on the length of something not reaching a full hour.

around 45 minutes

Gives an example of the length of time, suggesting that the time duration could be anything under 60 minutes.

approximately 50 minutes

Suggests a duration that is close to but not exceeding an hour.

no more than an hour

Emphasizes that the duration does not exceed the one-hour mark.

FAQs

How can I use "under an hour" in a sentence?

You can use "under an hour" to describe the duration of an event or task. For example, "The train journey takes "less than an hour"".

What's a more precise way to express a time duration described by "under an hour"?

If you need to be more specific, you could say "approximately 45 minutes" or "in less than 60 minutes".

Which is correct: "under an hour" or "less than one hour"?

Both "under an hour" and "less than one hour" are grammatically correct and mean the same thing. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and flow of your writing.

What's the difference between "within an hour" and "under an hour"?

"Within an hour" implies that something will happen or be completed inside that time, while "under an hour" simply indicates the duration is shorter than one hour.