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I don't mean "one and a half hours", but I mean "one point five hours" when I talk about duration like when I say

I've been here for one point five hours.

My kids spend like one point five hours to finish there lunch.

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  • I'm a little confused by I don't mean "one and half hours", but I mean "one point five hours". "One and half hours" is ungrammatical but sounds close to "one and a half hours" which means 1.5 hours. Did you think it means something else or intend something else?
    – TypeIA
    Commented Jul 4, 2019 at 21:15
  • @TypeIA I did not know that I can ever say one point five hours, I know that I can write it but not sure whether I can say it, and yes I mean one and a half hours
    – Costa
    Commented Jul 5, 2019 at 11:30

2 Answers 2

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6

I've been here for one point five hours.

Sure, you can say this, but people will look at you funny and wonder if you're a mad scientist! It's grammatically correct and would be understood, but the far more natural thing to say is:

I've been here for an hour and a half.

Or, less naturally and more stiff/formal:

I've been here for one and a half hours.

Also, you made a very common (even for native speakers) spelling mistake:

... to finish their lunch (instead of there)

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  • 1
    You can drop the word "like" without changing the meaning.
    – JeremyC
    Commented Jul 4, 2019 at 22:13
0

The only time when one might write or say 1.5 hours is when describing a mathematical calculation where it is necessary to measure time in hours. For example when calculating speed in kilometres per hour. I have never heard it used in everyday speech. It means one and a half hours.

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  • 1
    The (online) time sheet system I have to use measures time in decimal hours (to one place). That is one reason I don't like it.
    – Peter
    Commented Mar 7 at 11:07
  • That does seem pretty inconvenient. So if you work 6 hours and 45 mins you have to round that to 6.8 hours?
    – Judith Jones
    Commented Mar 7 at 11:30
  • 1
    that's right. It has the times in drop-down menus with the usual format (in 6 minute increments, so 9:00, 9:06, etc), but the time worked is presented in decimal hours. I've got used to it, but it is still a bit of a pest.
    – Peter
    Commented Mar 7 at 13:47

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