under two hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "under two hours" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a time frame that is less than two hours. Here are a few examples of how you could use this phrase in a sentence: 1. "The flight from New York to Los Angeles takes just under two hours." 2. "The repairman promised to fix my car in under two hours." 3. "This online course can be completed in under two hours." 4. "The marathon runner finished the race in just under two hours." 5. "I was able to finish my project in under two hours, thanks to my efficient team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This performance runs just under two hours.

The New York Times

The average game length is a little under two hours.

The New York Times - Tech

Under two hours by direct train to London.

The Guardian

The trip takes just under two hours and costs €7.10.

Independent

D) Once ran a marathon in under two hours.

The New York Times

(The Film Forum print runs just under two hours).

The New York Times

But in every case this took under two hours.

The New York Times - Magazine

The jury took just under two hours to unanimously clear him of causing grievous bodily harm.

The Guardian

It is long (just under two hours, with an intermission) and includes some mild profanity.

The New York Times - Arts

WITH OBLIGING traffic, the drive to New Haven from their apartment took under two hours.

The New York Times

Just under two hours after the final whistle, that dilemma was taken out of his hands.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When specifying time constraints, use "under two hours" for clarity when the exact duration is not critical but needs to be shorter than two hours. This provides a general upper bound for the activity or event.

Common error

Avoid using "under two hours" when a more precise time is known and relevant. For example, if something takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, stating that is more informative than saying it took "under two hours".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under two hours" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying a time duration. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is a grammatically correct construction. For example, "The flight took under two hours." Ludwig provides many examples of usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under two hours" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a time duration of less than two hours. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as an adverbial phrase. It is frequently used in News & Media to describe the length of events, journeys, or procedures, as demonstrated by the multiple examples available in Ludwig. While "under two hours" enjoys widespread use, consider a more specific time frame if the exact time is relevant. It is important to note that "under two hours" is usually about setting a time limit for an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in less than two hours

Uses a slightly different prepositional phrase for the same meaning.

less than 120 minutes

Specifies the duration in minutes instead of hours.

shorter than two hours

Directly compares the duration to the two-hour mark.

within a two-hour timeframe

Highlights that something happens inside a time window.

before the two-hour mark

Emphasizes reaching a point before the specified time.

below the two-hour limit

Implies that duration is not allowed to be higher than specified time.

not exceeding two hours

Focuses on setting a maximum time limit.

under the 120-minute threshold

Uses a more technical term (threshold) and converts to minutes.

within 1. 5 hours

Provides a more precise time duration than 'under two hours'.

before two hours have elapsed

Emphasizes the passage of time leading up to the two-hour mark.

FAQs

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

You can use "under two hours" to describe a duration, as in "The movie is "less than two hours" long" or "The repair should take "less than 120 minutes".".

What is a similar phrase to "under two hours"?

Similar phrases include "within a two-hour timeframe", "in less than two hours", or "before the two-hour mark".

Is it correct to say "less than two hours" instead of "under two hours"?

Yes, ""less than two hours"" is grammatically correct and conveys a similar meaning to "under two hours". Both phrases are widely accepted.

What does it mean when something is described as "under two hours"?

It means the duration of the thing being described is shorter than two hours, but the exact duration is not necessarily specified. It simply provides an upper limit for the time.