a long persistent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long persistent" is not correct in English as it is missing a noun to complete the thought.
You can use it when describing something that has been ongoing for a significant duration, but it needs to be part of a complete phrase. Example: "The issue has been a long persistent problem in our community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The hiring of Edwards is the culmination of a long, persistent effort by the N.F.L. to cure one of its ugly blemishes.

The New York Times - Sports

A long persistent phosphor (LPP) CaZnGe2O6: Cr3+ has been rationally designed and successfully fabricated.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We present the case of a 14-year old male patient, without known history of migraine or neurologic issues, who came to our attention for the manifestation of an acute and long persistent (>72h) symptomatology characterized by headache, confusional state, dysarthria, aphasia and visual disturbances.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

SrGa2O4, possessing a one-dimensional chain structure of cations along a crystal direction, exhibits a self-activated blue long persistent luminescence (LPL) related to the intrinsic defects.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Of course, if it simply didn't happen at all, to anyone, then readers and movie audiences are entitled to ask what value the story has – except, conceivably, as an image for humanity's long, persistent slog away from the prison of Soviet tyranny.

The Guardian - Film

The designed phosphors successfully break the monopoly of the ordinary Cr3+-activated gallate phosphors with the spinel structure and provides a new route for design of long persistent phosphors.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds

The result, he claims, is a taste that disappears on the palate immediately, but has a "long and persistent" flavour.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But this is to take nothing away from Verstappen, who resisted a long and persistent challenge from Kimi Raikkonen to win the race on his debut for Red Bull.

The Guardian - Sport

He spoke out early against segregation in the South from pulpits in Washington, D.C., and Louisiana, protested the Vietnam War before many could find that country on a map and raised a long and persistent alarm against nuclear weapons.

The New York Times

O'Toole could not determine whether John had engaged in sexual contact with minors, but he noted that the record clearly established that John had a "long and persistent trajectory of obsession with child pornography — and with sex with children".

The New Yorker

"There is no case in which such a long and persistent course of manufacture of both guns and explosives combined with possession of material likely to be useful to those who commit terrorist acts has ever been before a court before".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing phenomena that extend over considerable time and demonstrate unwavering continuation, consider using phrases like "a long-lasting effect" or "a persistent endeavor" for clarity and grammatical correctness. Ensure that the noun being modified is explicitly stated.

Common error

Avoid using the fragment "a long persistent" without specifying what is long and persistent. For example, instead of saying "The issue has been a long persistent…", complete the thought with "…problem in our community".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long persistent" functions as an adjective phrase that seeks to modify a noun, but its incompleteness renders it grammatically questionable. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's missing a noun to complete the thought.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a long persistent" is grammatically incomplete and requires a noun to fully express its intended meaning. While Ludwig presents examples from scientific and news sources, its AI indicates the phrase is not entirely correct without additional context. Alternatives like "a long-lasting" or "a persistent" [noun] provide more grammatically sound options. Therefore, while attempting to convey duration and persistence, writers should aim for clarity and completeness by adding a noun or choosing alternative phrasings to ensure grammatical correctness and avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A prolonged duration

Focuses on the extended length of time, replacing "long" with a more formal synonym and restructuring the phrase.

A sustained effort

Shifts the focus to the continuous nature of the effort, rather than a quality of something existing.

A lasting presence

Emphasizes the enduring impact or existence of something, changing "persistent" to a synonym.

A protracted period

Replaces both "long" and "persistent" with synonyms, emphasizing the extended and often unwelcome nature of the duration.

An enduring quality

Highlights the lasting nature of a characteristic, replacing "persistent" with a synonym and changing the noun.

A chronic condition

Specifically refers to a health issue that lasts a long time, changing the context to medical.

A continual problem

Focuses on the ongoing nature of an issue, emphasizing its recurrence.

A lengthy process

Highlights the extended duration of a task or activity, replacing "persistent" with a general term.

A perennial concern

Emphasizes the recurring nature of a concern, implying it comes up regularly.

An ongoing challenge

Focuses on the continuous nature of a difficulty, highlighting its present and future existence.

FAQs

How can I use "a long persistent" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "a long persistent" is incomplete and requires a noun to follow it. For example, you could say "a long persistent problem" or "a long persistent effort". Alternatively, consider using phrases like "a long lasting" or "a persistent" issue.

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "a long persistent"?

Instead of "a long persistent", consider using phrases such as "a long lasting", "a prolonged", or "a sustained" [noun]. These options provide clearer and more grammatically correct expressions.

Is it acceptable to use "a long persistent" in formal writing?

Due to its grammatical incompleteness, "a long persistent" is generally not suitable for formal writing. Opt for more precise and complete phrases such as "a long-term" or "a sustained" [noun] to maintain clarity and professionalism.

How does "a long persistent problem" differ from "a long-standing problem"?

"A long persistent problem" implies a problem that continues for an extended duration. While grammatically improved by adding the word 'problem', it remains less common. "A long-standing problem" is a more idiomatic and widely accepted way to describe an issue that has existed for a considerable amount of time.