As an expert in linguistics and communication, I'm often asked about the nuances of expressing time in English. When it comes to writing time, there are several conventions that people follow, and these can vary slightly depending on the context. However, there are some general rules that apply to most situations.

Firstly, when expressing a specific number of hours along with a fraction of an hour, it's common to use the structure: a cardinal number followed by the fraction and the word "hours," plural. For instance, "four and a half hours" or "three and three-quarters hours." This format is clear and universally understood.

However, there's an exception to this rule, and it pertains to the question at hand: one and a half hours. In everyday English, especially in spoken language, it's more common to say "an hour and a half" rather than "one and a half hours." This is because "an hour and a half" is more conversational and flows better when spoken. It's also easier to understand at a glance.

The phrase "an hour and a half" is a compound unit of time that combines a whole unit (an hour) with a half of that unit. It's a way to express a duration that is more than one hour but less than two. This expression is widely accepted and used in various contexts, from scheduling appointments to describing the length of events or activities.

It's important to note that while "an hour and a half" is the preferred colloquial expression, "one and a half hours" is not incorrect. It's simply less common and might sound a bit more formal or less natural in everyday conversation.

When writing, it's always a good idea to consider your audience and the context. If you're writing a formal document or an academic paper, you might opt for "one and a half hours" to maintain a formal tone. On the other hand, if you're writing an email, a text message, or speaking to someone, "an hour and a half" would likely be more appropriate.

In summary, both "an hour and a half" and "one and a half hours" are correct ways to express a duration of 1.5 hours. The choice between them depends on the level of formality and the context in which the time is being expressed.

Now, let's move on to the translation of the above explanation into Chinese.

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6 Answers. In general, for some number of hours, plus some fraction of an hour, you'd use the number, plus the fraction, plus "hours", plural. "Four and a half hours.", "Three and three-quarters hours," etc. However, for the specific case of 1.5 hours, the usual expression is "an hour and a half".Jan 30, 2015read more >>