a long career

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long career" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's extensive duration of work in a particular profession or field. Example: "After a long career in education, she decided to retire and pursue her passion for painting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"A long career isn't guaranteed.

The New York Times

"Everybody makes mistakes over a long career".

The New York Times

Billy enjoyed a long career in finance.

The New York Times

A long career in construction?

The New York Times

"It's been a long career.

The New York Times

"It's a long season, a long career.

The New York Times - Sports

And you're in for a long career.

Harvard Business Review

You've had a long career in business.

Harvard Business Review

You've had such a long career.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Does a long career necessarily mean embarrassment?

The New York Times - Magazine

Touch wood, there's a long career ahead.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a long career" to set expectations for future trajectory, for example "He has a long career ahead of him" is useful to indicate someone's early potential.

Common error

Avoid using "a long career" when referring to short-term jobs or projects. This phrase implies a significant and sustained commitment to a particular field or profession.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long career" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes the duration of someone's professional life. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a long career" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe an individual's extensive professional journey. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the duration and accumulated experience within a specific field. While versatile, it's best suited for describing significant commitments rather than short-term roles. Alternatives like "an extensive career" or "a distinguished career" can add nuance, depending on the context. This phrase is mostly used in "News & Media", "Formal & Business" and "Science" contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prolonged career

Replaces "long" with "prolonged", emphasizing the extended duration.

an extensive career

Substitutes "long" with "extensive", highlighting the breadth of experience.

a lengthy career

Replaces "long" with "lengthy", focusing on the duration in a more formal tone.

a distinguished career

Adds "distinguished" to emphasize notable achievements and recognition within the career.

a successful career

Highlights the positive outcomes and accomplishments of the career.

a fulfilling career

Focuses on the satisfaction and personal reward derived from the career.

a remarkable career

Emphasizes the exceptional and noteworthy nature of the career.

a protracted career

Uses "protracted" to suggest an unusually long or extended duration, potentially with challenges.

a sustained career

Highlights the consistent and enduring nature of the career.

a twenty-year career

Specifies a duration, providing a concrete timeframe for the career's length.

FAQs

What's the best way to use "a long career" in a sentence?

You can use "a long career" to describe someone's professional journey, such as, "She had "a long career" in medicine before retiring".

What can I say instead of "a long career"?

Alternatives include "an extensive career", "a lengthy career", or "a distinguished career", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a long career ahead"?

Yes, it's correct. It's often used to express that someone has the potential for a prolonged and successful professional life in the future, as in, "He's young and has "a long career" ahead of him".

What is the difference between "a long career" and "a rich career"?

"A long career" refers primarily to the duration of one's professional life, while "a rich career" implies a fulfilling and varied experience, not necessarily tied to the length of time. They are not perfectly interchangeable.