a long extent

USAGE SUMMARY

"a long extent" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe the degree or magnitude of something, either physical or figurative. For example, "The war lasted for a long extent of time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The Lake of Tanis and the Pelusiac branch had a long extent in the East-West direction (>25 km); during wind setdown this extent of shallow water can produce a vertical displacement of 2 m.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Even for me, who has been paying attention to this and has heard women tell their stories for a long time, the extent to which we were hearing about food being related to this vulnerability was new and shocking to me, and the level of desperation that it implies was really shocking to me.

The Guardian

This choice of direction restricts the hydrodynamic possibilities to those bodies of water near Sinai that have a long East-West extent.

Plosone

We aligned the molecule with its longest extent along the z axis and immersed it in a periodic rectangular box of TIP3P waters with at least 120 Å between the protein atoms and box edge along the Z-direction and at least 8 Å in the X- and Y-directions.

Biophysical Journal

The length of the flap was need-based but the longest extent in our series went proximally up to the popliteal fossa.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

At its longest extent, the route was 180.52 mile long.

Wikipedia

The route at its longest extent was 6 mile.

Wikipedia

Handicrafts, have for a long time been the extent of what African manufacturing and design has meant to most people.

The Guardian

We find a long branch in the extent of shared LCNS per million years in the lineage ancestral to living birds and reptiles followed by much shorter branches in the descendant lineages.

Genome Biology and Evolution

In particular, a long and to some extent still ongoing debate [ 1- 3] has helped delineate some quantitative differences in the amount of horizontal gene transfer across typical prokaryote and eukaryote genomes.

Biology Direct

"I dismissed The Commitments for a long, long time to the extent I forgot I had anything to do with it".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a long extent", ensure the context clarifies whether you're referring to physical distance, time, or degree. For clarity, specify the unit of measurement or the aspect being measured.

Common error

Avoid using "a long extent" when "a long time" or "a great degree" would be more precise. Be specific about what is being measured to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long extent" functions as a descriptor, modifying a noun to indicate a considerable duration, distance, or degree. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct, even though its frequency is low.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a long extent" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something considerable in duration, distance, or degree. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, the phrase is relatively rare, with most examples appearing in scientific and news contexts. For greater precision, consider using alternatives like "a prolonged period" or "a significant degree", depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, clarify the aspect being measured to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an extensive duration

Replaces "long" with "extensive" and "extent" with "duration", both synonyms.

an extended duration

Another variation focusing on the temporal aspect.

a considerable duration

Changes the focus to time rather than spatial dimension or degree.

a significant degree

Emphasizes the importance or impact rather than the physical length.

a great length

Focuses specifically on linear distance.

a prolonged period

Specifically refers to time, suggesting something lasts for a while.

a broad scope

Refers to the range or comprehensiveness of something.

a protracted length

More formal synonym focusing on extended time or distance.

a wide range

Suggests variety or diversity across a spectrum.

a vast expanse

Implies a large open area or scope.

FAQs

What does "a long extent" mean?

The phrase "a long extent" refers to a considerable duration, distance, or degree. The precise meaning depends on the context in which it is used.

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

You can use "a long extent" to describe a physical distance, like "The river has "a long extent" from north to south", or to describe a period of time, such as, "The project required "a long extent" of planning".

What are some alternatives to "a long extent"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a significant degree", "a prolonged period", or "an extensive duration".

Is "a long extent" formal or informal?

The phrase "a long extent" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more precise language may be preferred in formal writing.