a long continuing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long continuing" is not correct in standard written English.
It is awkward and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "The project has been a long continuing effort to improve community engagement."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In these functions there is a long continuing trend toward the use of scientific instead of traditional or intuitive methods.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"This is just another installment in a long, continuing saga" of the newspaper industry in transition, said Colby Atwood, a newspaper analyst for Borrell Associates.

The New York Times

Connecting the World Trade Center memorial to the past would add to its emotional power, helping us to see those who died there as players in a long, continuing saga.

The New York Times

There has been a long, continuing interest in the ancestral development of non-symbiotic haemoglobins (Smagghe et al. 2009).

AoB PLANTS

A likely implication may be that even an established but untransplanted viral tumor, such as the Kaposi sarcoma, remains dependent upon a long continuing, stimulatory, low level immune reaction.

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He had a new career long, continuing a stretch of consistency in which he has made nine consecutive field goals going back to last season.

Los Angeles Times

In the summer, I teach an online course, Wine Basics for Home Winemakers, and CUVEE, a week-long continuing education course.

Cornell University

But that is clearly a pattern that cannot long continue, and a reckoning with this shadow of the past is obviously ahead.

The Economist

This is a process that cannot long continue.

The New York Times

Teju Cole described "Amour" as a film that "will long continue to trouble [viewers] in the right ways".

The New Yorker

As both these books point out, the love-hate relationship of England and France has a long, and continuing, history.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a long continuing" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives such as "a prolonged" or "an extended".

Common error

The construction "a long continuing" can sound redundant and unnatural. Replace it with a single adjective that conveys both duration and continuity for improved clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long continuing" functions as an adjectival modifier, attempting to describe something that has both duration and continuity. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is awkward and not grammatically ideal.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a long continuing" attempts to convey both the duration and the ongoing nature of something. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is considered awkward and grammatically questionable in standard English. While it appears in various contexts like news, science, and encyclopedias, it's infrequent and often replaceable with clearer alternatives such as ""prolonged"" or ""extended"". For improved clarity and grammatical correctness, avoid using "a long continuing" in formal writing and opt for more concise and standard phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long-lasting continuation

Focuses on the enduring quality of something, clarifying that the continuation is not just long but also likely to persist.

a lengthy continuation

Highlights the considerable duration of something that is continuing, providing a more direct and understandable alternative.

a long-running continuation

Implies a continuation that has been in progress for a significant time, often used for events or processes.

a prolonged continuation

Emphasizes the extended nature and ongoing state of something, replacing the awkward phrasing with a more standard structure.

a persistent continuation

Stresses the unwavering and determined nature of something that continues, implying resistance to change or termination.

a sustained continuation

Stresses the consistent and maintained nature of the continuation, implying effort or support behind its ongoing state.

an enduring continuation

Highlights the lasting quality of the continuation, suggesting it has overcome challenges or obstacles.

a protracted continuation

Emphasizes the extended and often tedious nature of something that is continuing, implying it might be longer than desired.

a continuous long period

Reverses the structure to emphasize the extended duration and the ongoing nature more distinctly.

a continuing long term

Changes the emphasis to specify that the continuation is oriented towards the long term, clarifying the intent or scope.

FAQs

Is "a long continuing" grammatically correct?

While the phrase "a long continuing" is sometimes used, it's generally considered awkward. Using phrases like "prolonged" or "extended" is usually clearer and more grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "a long continuing"?

Alternatives include "prolonged continuation", "lengthy continuation", or "sustained effort" depending on the context.

How can I improve the clarity of my writing when expressing duration and continuity?

Instead of "a long continuing", try to use a single adjective or a more common phrase. For example, instead of "a long continuing process", use "a "prolonged process"" or "an "extended process"".

What's the difference between "a long continuing" and "a continuous"?

"Continuous" implies something happening without interruption. "A long continuing", while not ideal, suggests something that has been ongoing for an extended duration. However, using "prolonged" or "extended" is generally preferable to "a long continuing".