Long ceased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Long ceased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has stopped or ended a long time ago. Example: "The tradition of writing letters has long ceased in the age of instant messaging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Streetlights have long ceased to work.

The Economist

Dublin's tiger economy has long ceased to roar.

The Guardian

As far as my beliefs are concerned, I have long ceased to take things for granted.

The New York Times

The Frums' daughter had long ceased splashing in the pool and gone up to bed.

The New York Times

Tight monetary policy has long ceased to stand in the way of economic growth.

The New York Times

The issue has long ceased to be how we can decisively expunge the Taliban — we can't.

The New York Times - Magazine

It has long ceased to be, its promoters argued, a rich man's game.

The New York Times

It had already long ceased having the mélange of ethnicities that I remembered.

The New Yorker

The Labor leadership row is a farce the public have long ceased to find funny.

The Guardian - Opinion

By 1989 the Wightman Cup had long ceased to be a contest.

The Guardian - Sport

The report argues that the military occupation has long ceased to be about ensuring security.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "long ceased" to emphasize that something ended or stopped a considerable time ago, making it clear that it's not a recent occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using "long ceased" when you simply want to state that something stopped recently. The phrase's strength lies in highlighting the extended period since the cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long ceased" functions as a verbal modifier, indicating that an action or state has concluded and that a significant amount of time has passed since its termination. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "long ceased" serves to underscore that a certain activity or state has not just ended, but has been over for an extensive duration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts. It's particularly prominent in news and media, as well as encyclopedic entries, making it suitable for formal yet accessible communication. The phrase carries a neutral tone and is valuable for conveying the extended passage of time since an event concluded. Alternative phrases, such as ""long discontinued"" or ""long since ended"", offer similar emphasis, but "long ceased" is a versatile option for adding depth to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Long since ended

Emphasizes the completion and finality of the action.

Long passed

Implies that something has gone by or ended a long time ago.

Long stopped

A more direct and simple way of saying something has ceased.

Long discontinued

Focuses on the act of stopping something, emphasizing the lack of continuation.

Long abandoned

Focuses on the act of giving up or leaving something behind a considerable time ago.

Long lapsed

Suggests a gradual decline or abandonment over a significant period.

Long terminated

Emphasizes the formal or official ending of something.

Long expired

Implies that something has lost its validity or relevance over time.

Long vanished

Conveys a sense of disappearance or fading away over time.

Long defunct

Highlights the state of being no longer operational or functional.

FAQs

How can I use "long ceased" in a sentence?

You can use "long ceased" to indicate that something stopped or ended a considerable time ago. For example: "The practice of sending telegrams has "long ceased"."

What are some alternatives to "long ceased"?

Alternatives include "long discontinued", "long stopped", or "long since ended", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "ceased long ago" instead of "long ceased"?

While "ceased long ago" is grammatically correct, "long ceased" is often used to add emphasis to the duration since the action stopped. The two are similar, but not always interchangeable depending on sentence structure.

What's the difference between "long ceased" and "recently ceased"?

"Long ceased" implies that something ended a significant time ago, while "recently ceased" indicates that it stopped in the near past. They convey opposite senses of time.