a fairly long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fairly long time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration that is longer than average but not excessively long. Example: "I haven't seen her in a fairly long time, and I miss our conversations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

That will not fundamentally change for a fairly long time.

The Guardian

But he knelt there for a fairly long time, and seemed to be praying.

The New Yorker

It has been a fairly long time, six years, since you last released a studio recording.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But we have been building vehicles in space for a fairly long time.

The New York Times

So you have this enormous overbuilding, which will take a fairly long time to overcome.

The New York Times

Lots of salt and pepper is necessary and a fairly long time grilling on both sides, then finished with some good olive oil.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Artillery strikes are very useful killstreak rewards (for killing 5 people) that can be used to blanket a whole area with continuously falling bombs for a limited, but fairly long time.

WikiHow

Because the physical size, shape, and regulatory state of a colony changes relatively slowly, fairly long time steps, tgrow, can be safely taken between updates.

BMC Systems Biology

They are commonly found in sloping lands, developed as a result of concentrated runoff over fairly long time.

Applied Water Science

While Luo et al., reported that glucosamine stimulated fatty acid oxidation in cultured adipocytes [19], their studies focused on treatment with high glucosamine concentrations (10 mM) over fairly long time period (i.e. 24 hrs).

Plosone

Loss to follow-up was defined when patients could not be assessed for fairly long time.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a fairly long time", consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. It's suitable for most contexts but can be replaced with more precise language if specificity is needed.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on vague time references like "a fairly long time" in technical or scientific writing. Instead, provide quantifiable measures (e.g., "over several months" or "between 5 and 10 years") for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fairly long time" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating the duration of an action or state. Ludwig examples show it qualifies how long something takes or lasts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a fairly long time" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a duration that is longer than average, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is versatile and appears frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. While suitable for general use, more precise language is recommended for technical or scientific writing. When aiming for increased formality, consider alternatives like "a considerable period" or "an extended duration". Ludwig examples demonstrate that the phrase serves to estimate duration generally, implying that an event takes or persists for a period greater than typical, but not extreme.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable period

Emphasizes the significant length of the duration.

an extended duration

Highlights the prolonged nature of the time.

a good while

A more informal way to indicate a significant amount of time.

a significant stretch

Focuses on the continuous nature of the duration.

a substantial length of time

Stresses the largeness of the time interval.

quite a while

A common and slightly more emphatic alternative.

a prolonged period

Similar in meaning, but perhaps implying a more formal or technical context.

a lengthy spell

Suggests an uninterrupted period of time.

a respectable amount of time

Indicates a duration that is worthy of note or consideration.

a protracted duration

Emphasizes that the duration is unusually long.

FAQs

How can I use "a fairly long time" in a sentence?

You can use "a fairly long time" to describe a duration that is longer than average but not excessively long. For example, "It took "a fairly long time" for the package to arrive".

What can I say instead of "a fairly long time"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable period", "quite a while", or "an extended duration" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a fairly long time" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "a fairly long time" is more suited for informal or neutral contexts. For formal writing, consider using more precise or technical terms like "a prolonged period" or "an extended duration".

What's the difference between "a fairly long time" and "a very long time"?

"A very long time" implies a significantly greater duration than ""a fairly long time"". The former suggests an exceptionally extended period, while the latter indicates a duration that is longer than average but not extreme.