a long time been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long time been" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a sense of duration but is missing necessary auxiliary verbs for proper structure. Example: "It has been a long time since we last met."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is it about parking and athletics, which has for a long time been the assumption?

Princeton University

I had known this family for a long time, been there at births, weddings, deaths.

The New York Times

"It has for a long time been the Wall Street of the South.

The New York Times

And Rwanda has, for a long time, been a bit of an aid darling.

The Guardian

We have for a long time been watching our rock stars kill themselves.

The Guardian - Music

He had for a long time been telling the stories of people in war zones.

The Guardian

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has for a long time been using oil and gas for its electricity production.

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

A minority of economists, notably Gary Becker, have for a long time been interested in time-use.

The Economist

Moisture has for a long time been recognized as a serious contributor to premature degradation of asphaltic pavements.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Marseille "has for a long time been neglected in France," better known for crime than for culture, she said.

The New York Times

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

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating duration, use grammatically correct phrases like "for a long time" or "it has been a long time". These alternatives ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a long time been" as it lacks the necessary auxiliary verbs and correct tense. Always double-check your sentence structure to ensure it follows standard English grammar rules.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long time been" attempts to function as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate duration. However, it is grammatically incomplete and requires auxiliary verbs to form a correct sentence structure. Ludwig AI identifies this as an incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

35%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a long time been" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect. While prevalent across various sources, including News & Media and Science, its persistent misuse underscores a fundamental flaw in sentence construction. The intended purpose—to indicate duration—is undermined by its incorrect structure. It's advisable to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "for a long time" or "it has been a long time" to ensure clarity and credibility in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a long time

Uses the preposition 'for' to correctly indicate duration.

a long time ago

Indicates a point in the past, rather than a continuous duration.

it has been a long time

Corrects the grammatical structure by adding necessary auxiliary verbs.

been a long time

Omits the article 'a', slightly altering the emphasis.

long-standing

Adjective indicating something that has existed for a long time.

long-established

Indicates something that has been established for an extended period.

of long duration

Formal way to express something that has lasted a long time.

for many years

Specifies the duration in terms of years.

for ages

Informal way to say "for a long time".

over an extended period

Formal and descriptive way to indicate a long duration.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "a long time been"?

The phrase "a long time been" is grammatically incorrect. Use phrases like "for a long time" or "it has been a long time" instead.

What does "a long time been" try to express?

The phrase "a long time been" attempts to indicate that something has occurred or existed for an extended duration. However, it fails to do so grammatically.

Is "a long time been" ever acceptable in writing?

No, "a long time been" is not considered acceptable in standard written English. It's crucial to use correct grammatical structures to ensure clarity.

What are some formal alternatives to "a long time been"?

Formal alternatives include "of long duration" or "over an extended period". These phrases offer a more precise and grammatically sound way to express the same idea.