a long time intern

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a long time intern" is not correct in standard English; it should be "a long-time intern." You can use it to describe someone who has been an intern for an extended period.
Example: "After being a long-time intern at the company, she finally received a full-time job offer."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

As [for] interning and getting into the industry, there was a long time, in media, where interning was the only way to go about it.

Vice

It has been a long time since the colonel, 69, was an intern, but not long at all since he was a civilian.

The New York Times

"Those principles of protecting people in the workplace have been in place for a long time, but they've never applied to interns," said Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian.

Huffington Post

Unpaid internships have been around for a long time in the United States, but the number has ballooned in recent years, said Ross Perlin, author of "Intern Nation: How to Earn Nothing and Learn Little in the Brave New Economy".

The New York Times

Although it seems Pinterest is trying to do better in its recruiting (32percentt of tech interns are female), it's clear that significant change will take a long time.

TechCrunch

A long time there".

The New Yorker

"Not a long time.

The New York Times

A long time".

The New York Times

"A long time ago".

The New York Times

Been a long time.

The New York Times

A long time passed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the hyphenated form "long-time intern" to clearly indicate that "long-time" is a single adjective modifying "intern". This avoids ambiguity and ensures grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using the unhyphenated form "a long time intern", as it can be misinterpreted. It might suggest you're describing an intern in the context of a significant duration, rather than the intern's extended role itself. The hyphen clarifies the relationship between "long" and "time" as a compound adjective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long time intern", while understandable, is grammatically questionable. Ideally, it should be written as 'long-time intern' using a hyphen to correctly modify the noun "intern." Ludwig AI suggests the unhyphenated version is not standard English and should be avoided.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a long time intern" is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the proper phrasing is the hyphenated form "long-time intern", which functions as a compound adjective. While the unhyphenated version appears in some sources, it is best to use "long-time intern" to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity. Alternatives such as "long-term intern" or "veteran intern" can also be used depending on the specific context. Remember to use the hyphenated form in formal writing to clearly describe an intern's extended tenure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long-term intern

Uses a hyphenated adjective to more clearly describe the duration of the internship.

extended internship

Focuses on the internship itself being of long duration rather than modifying the intern.

intern for a considerable period

Rephrases the concept with a more formal tone, highlighting the length of the internship.

veteran intern

Implies extensive experience as an intern, suggesting a long duration.

long-serving intern

Emphasizes the intern's tenure and dedication over a significant time.

intern with extensive tenure

Highlights the length of time the intern has been with the organization.

intern for a prolonged duration

Replaces "a long time" with a more formal alternative, "a prolonged duration".

intern of long standing

Uses a more archaic phrasing to indicate long-term association.

seasoned intern

Suggests the intern has gained significant experience due to the long duration.

an intern of many years

Directly states the duration in years.

FAQs

What's the correct way to describe an intern who has worked for a long period?

The correct way is to use the hyphenated form "long-time intern". For example, you could say, "She was a "long-time intern" at the company before getting hired full-time".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a long time intern"?

No, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. The phrase should be hyphenated as "long-time" when used as an adjective before the noun, intern. Using "a long time intern" without the hyphen is a common error.

What are some alternatives to "a long time intern"?

Alternatives include "long-term intern", "veteran intern", or "extended internship". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Why is "long-time intern" preferred over "a long time intern"?

Using "long-time" as a compound adjective clarifies that you're describing an intern who has been in the position for an extended period. Without the hyphen, "a long time" could be misinterpreted as referring to a separate timeframe related to the intern.