a lengthy ongoing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lengthy ongoing" is not correct as it is incomplete and lacks clarity in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or process that is both long in duration and currently in progress, but it needs to be part of a more complete phrase. Example: "The project has become a lengthy ongoing discussion among the team members."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Lawyers representing Adnan Syed, the subject of the popular true-crime podcast Serial, have filed the first documents in a lengthy ongoing effort to overturn his conviction for murder.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Republicans pointed to a lengthy, ongoing, and sometimes violent strike which the UAW was conducting against the Kohler plumbing fixtures company in Wisconsin.

Wikipedia

The salacious details of a lengthy, ongoing wrongful-death trial have hardly made a scratch on public opinion (indeed, those who have followed it closely seem to find him more sympathetic and human than he ever was during the final decades of his life).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Construct validity is one of the most important characteristics and is a lengthy and ongoing process [ 13].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Instead the government will bankroll any deal that results from C4's lengthy ongoing negotiations with the BBC's commercial arm.

The Guardian - Tech

Reading your comments this morning put me in mind of it, as it was the subject of a lengthy - indeed, ongoing - debate with a friend.

The Guardian - Books

The second is that you will receive a lengthy update on her ongoing search for Kurt's Missing Millions, vast sums of which she claims she and her daughter, Frances Bean, have been ruthlessly defrauded since her husband's suicide in 1994.

The Guardian - Music

In May, the Turkish daily newspaper Hürriyet published a leaked government document that shows Yarman's name on a lengthy list of targets for ongoing wiretaps.

The New Yorker

In a lengthy conversation, O'Leary discussed her ongoing campaign against MMS and compared chlorine dioxide use to other discredited treatments for autism like chelation and shock therapy.

Vice

It has been a lengthy process, and one that is still ongoing, but time is seldom an ally in football.

BBC

An investigation into the incident, which led to a lengthy delay in the second half of the game, is ongoing.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a lengthy ongoing", ensure it's part of a more complete and grammatically sound phrase to provide clarity and context. For instance, use it to describe a "a lengthy ongoing discussion" or "a lengthy ongoing investigation".

Common error

Avoid using "a lengthy ongoing" as a standalone descriptor without a noun or context. This can lead to ambiguity and make the sentence grammatically awkward. Always pair it with a noun to clarify what is lengthy and ongoing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lengthy ongoing" acts as a descriptive modifier, usually preceding a noun. Ludwig AI indicates that it is not correct as a standalone phrase, suggesting it requires further context. When used, it qualifies the noun, indicating both a long duration and present continuation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lengthy ongoing" is a phrase used to describe something that is both long in duration and currently in progress. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's not considered grammatically strong on its own and needs to be part of a more complete phrase. Examples show its presence across News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific sources, albeit with infrequent occurrence. For improved clarity, consider alternatives like "a prolonged ongoing" or rewording the sentence to emphasize the duration and active state separately. Ensure usage is followed by a noun to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long and continuous

Simplifies the wording while retaining the core meaning of duration and continuity.

a long-lasting, continuous

Replaces "lengthy" with "long-lasting" and "ongoing" with "continuous", emphasizing duration and uninterrupted progress.

a sustained and current

Uses "sustained" to emphasize the continuation and "current" to denote the present.

a prolonged, sustained

Substitutes "lengthy" for "prolonged" and "ongoing" for "sustained", highlighting the extended nature and continuation of something.

a far-reaching and in progress

Emphasizes scope and ongoing state

an extended, current

Uses "extended" instead of "lengthy" and "current" instead of "ongoing", focusing on the duration and present state.

a protracted, continuing

Replaces "lengthy" with "protracted" and "ongoing" with "continuing", stressing the drawn-out nature and uninterrupted sequence.

a time-consuming process that is still active

Expands the original phrase to clarify the meaning as a lengthy process that is currently in progress.

a chronic, persistent

Suggests that a certain condition lasts a lot of time and is still affecting reality.

a drawn-out, never-ending

Replaces "lengthy" with "drawn-out" and "ongoing" with "never-ending", emphasizing the protracted and seemingly perpetual nature.

FAQs

Is "a lengthy ongoing" grammatically correct?

The phrase "a lengthy ongoing" is considered grammatically questionable. It's advisable to use a more complete phrase such as "a lengthy ongoing discussion" for better clarity and grammatical correctness. Consider alternatives like "a prolonged ongoing" or "an extended ongoing".

What are some alternatives to "a lengthy ongoing"?

You can use alternatives like "a long and continuous", "a sustained and current", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity. For example, instead of "a lengthy ongoing project", you might say "a project that has been ongoing for a long time".

How can I use "a lengthy ongoing" in a sentence correctly?

Ensure the phrase is followed by a noun to complete the meaning, such as "a lengthy ongoing process" or "a lengthy ongoing investigation". This clarifies what is both lengthy and ongoing. For example: "The negotiations turned into a lengthy ongoing process".

What's the difference between "a lengthy ongoing process" and "a prolonged process"?

"A lengthy ongoing process" emphasizes that the process is both long in duration and still in progress. "A prolonged process", on the other hand, primarily emphasizes the extended duration but does not necessarily highlight that it is currently ongoing. If you want to denote its active state, "a lengthy ongoing process" is more suitable.