until the late hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until the late hours" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an activity or event that continues into the late part of the night. Example: "We stayed up until the late hours discussing our plans for the future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Later would come carnival rides, clams and shrimp, and drinks until the late hours of the evening.

The New York Times

Even until the late hours of Friday, "the president wanted to keep the government open," Mulvaney said.

The Washington Post

Legislative staff members who have regularly worked until the late hours complain that they have had no time to do laundry.

The New York Times

So where Weegee once covered a city's seedy underbelly, often traveling by car with his Speed Graphic in the trunk, the tourists strolled safely until the late hours of the evening.

The New York Times

Day two: After working until the late hours (a no-no) the night before, I waltzed in at 11am, adorned with a new coloured tie for my allocated interview slot.

The Guardian

Players sit until the late hours arranging the pieces in lines across the tables, sometimes talking of home, more often quietly contemplating the logic of a game they learned during childhood in the Caribbean.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

We like the late hours.

The New York Times - Arts

Because of the late hour, Ziegler did not inform Hartwig of his assignment until the morning of 19 April, shortly before the firing exercise was scheduled to begin.

Wikipedia

But the late hour of the deal combined with the technical issues that remained with the measure suggested that a vote would be delayed until at least Saturday.

The New York Times

But "Elementary" did not get on the air until 11 11 p.m. in the East, the latest hour on record for a show after the Super Bowl.

The New York Times

"Participation would preclude roaming the streets until late hours the previous night," he stated in his proposal for the program.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "until the late hours", ensure the context makes it clear what activity is being prolonged. Provide enough information to specify what is happening up to that point.

Common error

Avoid using "until the late hours" without specifying the starting time or activity. Saying "they worked until the late hours" is less effective than "they worked on the project until the late hours, driven by the impending deadline."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until the late hours" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies the duration of an action, indicating that it continued up to a certain point in time, specifically the late part of the night. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its correct and usable nature in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "until the late hours" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to indicate that an activity extended into the late part of the night. Ludwig AI analysis shows it's most frequently found in News & Media sources, with a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, remember to provide context about the starting time or nature of the activity to avoid vagueness. For more formal settings, alternatives like "until the early morning" may be more appropriate. The phrase is well-supported by examples from authoritative sources, confirming its established usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until late at night

Replaces "the late hours" with a simpler and more direct expression of time.

until the wee hours

Uses a more informal and evocative term ("wee hours") to refer to the early morning.

until the early morning

Specifies the time as the beginning of the morning rather than the end of the night.

up to late at night

Emphasizes the activity leading up to a late time, with a slightly different structure.

until after midnight

Indicates that the activity continues beyond the middle of the night.

through the night

Focuses on the entire night period rather than specifically the late part.

extending into the night

Describes the activity's duration as reaching into the nighttime.

until the crack of dawn

Uses a more figurative expression to mark the end of the activity at daybreak.

until daybreak

A simpler alternative for "until the crack of dawn".

until the break of day

A more poetic way of saying until daybreak.

FAQs

How can I use "until the late hours" in a sentence?

Use "until the late hours" to indicate that an activity continued far into the night. For example: "The party lasted "until the late hours", with guests leaving well after midnight."

What's a more formal alternative to "until the late hours"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "until the early morning" or "extending into the night".

Is it correct to say "till the late hours" instead of "until the late hours"?

Both "till" and "until" are acceptable, but "until" is generally considered more formal. "Until the late hours" is the more common and preferred choice in formal writing.

What's the difference between "until the late hours" and "until the wee hours"?

"Until the late hours" is a general expression for the late part of the night. "Until the wee hours" is more informal and specifically refers to the very early hours of the morning, close to dawn.