a long term debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long term debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a discussion or argument that has been ongoing for an extended period of time. Example: "The issue of climate change has sparked a long term debate among scientists and policymakers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Until today, there has been a long-term debate as to whether the Tai-Kadai languages are just a branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages or instead they should be treated as a new set [51], [52], [53].

Plosone

What he hopes for is a proper long-term debate about the EU, which would lead to membership only if there were strong public support and a cross-party consensus.The biggest argument for joining, put by both Mr Asgrimsson and many Icelandic businessmen, is not a sudden love for Brussels but a simple desire for currency stability.

The Economist

Overall, the etiology, cellular types and the origin of the cells found in ERMs has been a matter of long-term debate.

BMC Ophthalmology

Lastly, we revisit the long-term debate of describing new species within the T. cruzi taxon.

Acta Tropica

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, said: "I think the findings show that Romanian and Bulgarian migrants coming to work and play by the rules are welcomed; that coming to work, and not claiming before they've paid in, seems more important to people than rewriting the free movement rules or getting out of Europe, though both are legitimate long-term debates".

The Guardian

There is no point in even bringing up Social Security outside of a long-term and comprehensive budget debate.

The New York Times

The United States itself has not detained any high-level terrorist suspects outside Iraq and Afghanistan since Mr. Obama took office, and the question of where to detain the most senior terrorist suspects on a long-term basis is being debated within the new administration.

The New York Times

Adding to the confusion while the Legislature debates a long-term renewal of the laws, legislators rejected a bill sought by Mr. Cuomo to extend the existing rent regulations for two days to allow time for negotiation.

The New York Times

"Many Republicans have made it clear that they don't have any interest in actually debating a long-term budget in the Senate, they just want to reopen the FY15 budget so they can hijack the process to play politics and use a vote-a-rama for partisan and campaign-related show votes," said a senior Democratic aide.

Huffington Post

Polarizing as the debate over a long-term, sustainable solution to their slow demise may be, the catalyst of the caribou's plight is virtually universally agreed upon.

Vice

While there has been a long scientific debate on the relative long term benefits and sequelae of vaginal birth and caesarean section in high and upper middle income settings [ 11, 17], few studies have documented the outcomes of these procedures in low income settings [ 18].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a long term debate", ensure the context clearly establishes the extended duration of the discussion or argument. Avoid vagueness by providing specific timelines or historical context if possible.

Common error

Avoid using "a long term debate" when referring to a recent or short-lived discussion. The phrase implies a history and sustained engagement with the topic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long term debate" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to a discussion or argument that has persisted over an extended period.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

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, "a long term debate" refers to an extended discussion or argument, implying duration and sustained engagement. While grammatically correct, Ludwig highlights that there are limited real-world examples of its usage in the provided data, making the analysis somewhat constrained. Alternative phrases, such as "ongoing dispute" or "protracted discussion", can offer nuanced variations depending on the specific context. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by providing sufficient context about the debate's duration and scope.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long-standing controversy

Similar to "a long term debate" but sounds more formal.

long-running argument

Similar to "a long term debate" but with a stronger implication of opposition.

protracted discussion

Highlights the extended duration of the discussion.

long-lived dispute

Similar to "a long term debate" but focuses on the extended duration.

ongoing dispute

Focuses on the contentious aspect, implying disagreement.

enduring controversy

Emphasizes the lasting nature of the disagreement.

chronic disagreement

Puts stress on the persistence and the almost unavoidable nature of the disagreement.

sustained dialogue

Suggests a more constructive and continuous conversation.

historical disagreement

Puts stress on the duration of the disagreement and its relevance in the past.

age-old argument

Highlights the extended duration of the argument and the difficulty to find a solution.

FAQs

How can I use "a long term debate" in a sentence?

You can use "a long term debate" to describe a discussion that has been ongoing for an extended period of time. For example: "There has been "a long term debate" about the effects of social media on society."

What are some alternatives to "a long term debate"?

Alternatives to "a long term debate" include "ongoing dispute", "protracted discussion", or "long-standing controversy". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What makes a debate "long term"?

A "long term debate" implies that the discussion has been ongoing for a significant period, often involving multiple perspectives and evolving arguments. The "long term" aspect highlights the sustained nature of the conversation.

Is "long-term debate" different from "a long term debate"?

The phrases "long-term debate" and "a long term debate" are essentially interchangeable. The presence or absence of the article "a" does not significantly alter the meaning.