Cool MateAn hour vs Sixty minutes
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
An hour
Top 3,000 (common)
Sixty minutes
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Sixty minutes
| An hour | Sixty minutes | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ən ˈaʊə//🇺🇸 //ən ˈaʊər// | 🇬🇧 //ˈsɪksti ˈmɪnʌts//🇺🇸 //ˈsɪksti ˈmɪnɪts// |
| Meaning | A period of 60 minutes. | One hour. |
| Example | The meeting lasted for an hour. | The meeting will last for sixty minutes. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | for an hour, in an hour, wait an hour | wait for sixty minutes, take sixty minutes, complete in sixty minutes |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly using 'an hour' when specifying a different time frame., Confusing 'an hour' with 'hours' for plural situations., Saying 'a hour' instead of 'an hour' due to pronunciation. | Confused with 'sixty second' - remember one hour is sixty minutes., Incorrectly using 'sixty minutes' for durations less than an hour. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. Appropriate in everyday contexts, but might be avoided in more formal writing. | Used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to a duration of time. Avoid using in casual conversations unless necessary. |
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Frequently asked questions: An hour vs Sixty minutes
What's the difference between An hour and Sixty minutes?
An hour: A period of 60 minutes. Sixty minutes: One hour.
Which is more common: An hour and Sixty minutes?
Sixty minutes is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
An hour: The meeting lasted for an hour. Sixty minutes: The meeting will last for sixty minutes.
Can I use An hour and Sixty minutes interchangeably?
Not always. An hour and Sixty minutes are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.