Prepositions with '24 hours'

Question

Hi,A.  He will receive a confirmation in 24 hours.B.  He will receive a confirmation in the next 24 hours.C.  He will receive a confirmation over 24 hours.D.  He will receive a confirmation over the next 24 hours.E.  He will receive a confirmation within 24 hours.F.  He will receive a confirmation within the next 24 hours.1.  Which sentences above are correct?2.  Do they all mean the same, that is the person will receive a confirmation some time between the moment the statement was spoken to him and 24 hours from then?  Let's say it was spoken to him at 1pm, then he will receive the confirmation on or before 1pm the next day?3.  Is there any difference whether formal or casual?4.  Which is/are commonly spoken?If you could, please advise.  Thanks.

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

You don't need the "a" before confirmation. C and D seem wrong to me.

"In" means exactly in 24 hours. "In the next 24 hours", "within 24 hours" and "within the next 24 hours" all mean the same thing. He'll recieve confirmation no later than 24 hours from now. "Over" doesn't seem good to me because it suggests continuous action which isn't the case here.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, Ivanhr, for your answers and helpful explanations. I can now see the difference.

Ivanhr"Over" doesn't seem good to me because it suggests continuous action which isn't the case here.

I'm not sure if I understood completely. I came up with the example below.

He will not receive confirmation over 24 hours.
He will not receive confirmation over the next 24 hours.

1. Are 'over' and 'over the next' in the sentences above appropriate? I think the act of not receiving continues from now until 24 hours later.
2. If not, could you please give examples for 'over' and 'over the next'?

3. By the way, are 'over' and 'over the next' the same in meaning?

4. Which is more natural and common?

Again, thanks for you assistance.

CalifJim · Answer

A. He will receive a confirmation in 24 hours. (Probably in exactly 24 hours, not before.)

B. He will receive a confirmation in the next 24 hours. Some time between now and then.

~~C. He will receive a confirmation over 24 hours.~~
D. ~~He will receive a confirmation over the next 24 hours.~~
E. He will receive a confirmation within 24 hours. Some time between now and then.
F. He will receive a confirmation within the next 24 hours. Some time between now and then.

You might possibly have "a confirmation", but most of the time it's just "confirmation".
"over" does not work for me. I find that it sounds unidiomatic, strange.

CJ

Ivanhr · Answer

He will not receive confirmation over 24 hours.

He will not receive confirmation over the next 24 hours.

I still wouldn't use any of those. I'd simply say "in the next 24 hours".

How about

It's been raining over the last 24 hours.

The rain is expected to continue over the next 24 hours.

Mudclay · Answer

I would prefer to use "in the next".

Just a follow up question.

A) "He will receive confirmation in the next 24 hours."

B) "He will receive confirmation in one day."

What's the sense if i say sentence A?

What 's the if i say sentence B?

Thanks!

Ivanhr · Answer

Hi Mudclay

Your first question has already been addressed in the previous posts.

Regarding your second question, one day technically means 24 hours so "in one day" means "in exactly one day/in exactly 24 hours". However, if a person used "in one day" instead of "in 24 hours" I'd probably take it to mean "in roughly 24 hours" rather than "in exactly 24 hours".

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Ivanhr, for answering my additional questions and for providing examples. I believe I now completely understand.

Thank you too, CJ, for your input. That was really helpful.

Mudclay, I also learned from your follow-up questions, thanks.

Mudclay · Answer

IvanhrHi Mudclay Your first question has already been addressed in the previous posts. Regarding your second question, one day technically means 24 hours so "in one day" means "in exactly one day/in exactly 24 hours". However, if a person used "in one day" instead of "in 24 hours" I'd probably take it to mean "in roughly 24 hours" rather than "in exactly 24 hours".

Hello there,

Just correct my analysis if i'm wrong. If i say "you will receive confirmation in the next 24 hours" doesn't it mean if it's 2pm today, he would receive it at exactly 2pm the next day? And if i say "you will recieve confirmation in one day" doesn't it mean that he would receive it anytime tomorrow?

Mudclay · Answer

mudclay
IvanhrHi Mudclay Your first question has already been addressed in the previous posts. Regarding your second question, one day technically means 24 hours so "in one day" means "in exactly one day/in exactly 24 hours". However, if a person used "in one day" instead of "in 24 hours" I'd probably take it to mean "in roughly 24 hours" rather than "in exactly 24 hours".
Hello there, Just correct my analysis if i'm wrong. If i say "you will receive confirmation in the next 24 hours" doesn't it mean if it's 2pm today, he would receive it at exactly 2pm the next day? And if i say "you will recieve confirmation in one day" doesn't it mean that he would receive it anytime tomorrow?

I think i go it.

Thank you teachers!

Mudclay · Answer

I think i got it.

Thank you!

Prepositions with '24 hours'

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