a long interest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long interest" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a sustained or prolonged interest in a subject, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "She has had a long interest in environmental science since her childhood."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

In the United States there has been a long interest in the subject.

Encyclopedia Britannica

McDonnell is a close friend of Corbyn's and one with a long interest in economic policy.

Independent

Mr. Wallace had a long interest in psychedelic drugs, which he thought were misunderstood in the United States.

The New York Times

He also had a long interest in conservative causes and was a major contributor to the Republican Party.

The New York Times

Al-Qaeda has had a long interest in ricin, a low-tech poison that can be made from the processing-waste of castor beans.

The Economist

He also has a long interest in the space program, which Mitt Romney all but mocked at the Republican debate in Iowa on Saturday night.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

But a long interest-only period works against them, too.

The New York Times

If you've got a decent credit score then apply for a balance-transfer credit card which offers a long interest-free period.

Independent

While that's pretty standard for credit cards, there are much cheaper deals available on the market, although not with such a long interest-free period.

Independent

If you pay off your credit card bill in full every month, go for a card with a long interest-free period and avoid lenders that charge interest from the date of the transaction, rather than the statement date.

The Guardian - Money

She had a life long interest in art and was an accomplished artist in watercolor and oil painting.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe your sentence to use more common and accepted phrases like "a longstanding interest", "a sustained interest", or "a deep interest" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "a long interest" directly. It's not a standard English expression and can sound unnatural to native speakers. Instead, opt for alternatives that clearly convey the duration or intensity of the interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long interest" functions as a noun phrase, but its usage is considered awkward and grammatically incorrect by Ludwig. It attempts to describe the duration of an interest, but it's not a standard English expression.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the individual words in "a long interest" are common, the combination is awkward and not considered standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrasing is not grammatically correct and doesn't effectively convey the intended meaning of a sustained interest. It's best to avoid this phrase and opt for more conventional alternatives such as "a longstanding interest", "a sustained interest", or "a deep interest". These alternatives are not only grammatically sound but also clearly communicate the duration or intensity of the interest.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a longstanding interest

Substitutes "long" with "longstanding", creating a more idiomatic and grammatically accepted phrase.

a sustained interest

Replaces "long" with "sustained", highlighting the continuous nature of the interest.

a prolonged interest

Uses "prolonged" instead of "long", emphasizing the extended duration of the interest.

a continuing interest

Uses "continuing" to specify that interest is still alive.

a lasting interest

Emphasizes the enduring quality of the interest using the word "lasting".

an enduring interest

Similar to "lasting interest", but with a slightly more formal tone.

a deep interest

Shifts the focus from duration to the intensity of the interest.

a keen interest

Highlights the enthusiasm associated with the interest.

a strong interest

Focuses on the intensity and power of the interest.

a significant interest

Emphasizes the importance or consequence of the interest.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "a long interest"?

Instead of "a long interest", consider using phrases like "a longstanding interest", "a sustained interest", or "a deep interest" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "a long interest" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "a long interest" is an awkward phrasing. It's better to use more common and accepted alternatives like "a longstanding interest" or "a sustained interest".

How can I use "interest" in a sentence correctly to describe a sustained passion?

To describe a sustained passion, use phrases like "He has a "lifelong interest" in history", or "She developed a deep interest in art at a young age". These alternatives sound more natural and grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "a long interest" and "a longstanding interest"?

"A longstanding interest" is a more idiomatic and grammatically correct way to express that someone has had an interest in something for a significant period. "A long interest" is not a conventional phrasing and should be avoided. It's preferred to use a longstanding interest.