whole hour

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whole hour" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the entirety of an hour, often in contexts discussing time spent or allocated for a task. Example: "I waited for a whole hour before they finally arrived."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This took a whole hour.

The New York Times - Magazine

For a whole hour and five minutes.

The Guardian

Unlike his opponents, he was given a whole hour.

The Economist

ME: Well, I've paid for the whole hour.

The New Yorker

For one whole hour there were no bites.

The New Yorker

Back on the boats for one last day of sailing, I manage a whole hour upright.

Independent

Watch the whole hour long interview below, featuring two other YouTubers.

Independent

Does the group really need a whole hour for project status updates?

The New York Times

We are going to do a whole hour on wisdom teeth later on in the season.

The New Yorker

A whole hour has been rudely snatched out of our lives this morning.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Apparently the whole hour-long panel's audio will be uploaded to SXSW's Wes site, so I'll be sure to link to it when it hits.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whole hour" to emphasize the entirety of the time period, especially when contrasting it with shorter or fragmented periods. For example, "I dedicated a "whole hour" to studying, uninterrupted."

Common error

Avoid using "whole hour" redundantly when the context already implies completeness. For example, saying "I spent a "whole hour" which was completely uninterrupted" is redundant; "I spent a "whole hour" uninterrupted" is more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole hour" functions as a modifier + noun construction, specifying a duration of time. It emphasizes the completeness or entirety of the hour. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whole hour" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to emphasize the completeness of a 60-minute duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It finds application across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific publications. While alternatives like "full hour" and "entire hour" exist, "whole hour" effectively highlights the duration without fragmentation. When employing this phrase, consider the context to avoid redundancy and ensure the emphasis is meaningful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entire hour

Focuses on the completeness of the hour, similar to "whole hour".

full hour

Emphasizes the hour being complete and not partial.

complete hour

Highlights that the hour is uninterrupted and finished.

solid hour

Implies an hour of continuous, dedicated time.

entire duration

More generic reference to the length of time, not specifically an hour.

hour-long period

Describes a period that lasts for an hour.

sixty minutes

Specifies the duration numerically.

one hour

Uses a numerical representation of the duration.

a period of sixty minutes

A formal way of referring to an hour.

an hour's time

Refers to a duration of one hour.

FAQs

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

You can use "whole hour" to emphasize the duration of time spent on an activity, such as "I spent a "whole hour" reading" or "The meeting lasted a "whole hour".

What are some alternatives to saying "whole hour"?

Alternatives include "full hour", "entire hour", or simply "an hour", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "whole hour" or "full hour"?

"Whole hour" and "full hour" are largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you wish to convey. Both are grammatically correct.

When should I use "whole hour" instead of just "hour"?

Use "whole hour" when you want to emphasize the uninterrupted or complete nature of the time period, contrasting it with a partial or fragmented "half hour" or shorter duration.