a meter long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a meter long" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the length of an object, indicating that it measures one meter in length. Example: "The rope is a meter long, making it perfect for our needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

The largest erythrosuchids were up to five meters long, with heads almost a meter long.

University of California, Berkeley

But Mars also hosted an intermediate bedform — ripples with wavelengths roughly a meter long.

The Washington Post

These "nanocages" are cubes of gold, with sides about 50-billionths of a meter long and holes at each corner.

The New York Times - Science

For single-celled creatures a millionth of a meter long, the force of friction dominates their ability to swim in a given direction.

Princeton University

While the atomic shifts were picometers (trillionths of a meter) long – "only one-hundredth of the distance between atoms," Kourkoutis said – they create fundamental change.

Cornell University

The earliest rhynchosaurs were small, less than a meter long, and had narrow, wedge-shaped skulls and a few small, blunt teeth for eating plants.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

In this week's issue of Nature, Chinese paleontologists describe the largest mammal skeleton--more than a meter long--ever found from the Mesozoic era.

Science Magazine

Team members reported that analyses of a third-of-a-meter-long rock that they call Esperance (rendered here in exaggerated color) is rich in a sort of clay that could only have formed when lots of neutral-pH water bathed martian rock.

Science Magazine

A meter-long area near the center of the tank contained sand coated with soybean oil.

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

A meter-long waveguide can actually be packed inside a centimeter-size chip.

Harvard University

And a high school sprint champion who built his strength by bench-pressing a meter-long section of railroad track.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the dimensions of an object, use "a meter long" to provide a clear and easily understandable measurement. This is especially useful in scientific, technical, and descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using plural forms like "meters" when the article "a" implies a singular unit. Instead of saying "a meters long", use the correct form "a meter long".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a meter long" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun by specifying its length. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a standard and acceptable usage. The phrase describes a linear dimension, providing a clear indication of size.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a meter long" is a grammatically sound and widely used adjectival phrase that accurately describes the length of an object. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and general usage. It finds frequent application in scientific, news, and academic contexts. For alternatives, consider phrases such as "one meter in length" or "approximately one meter", depending on the required level of precision. When using the phrase, ensure correct unit agreement to avoid common grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one meter in length

Formal and more explicit restatement of the same measurement.

approximately one meter

Indicates an estimation close to one meter.

around a meter long

Suggests a length that is near to, but not necessarily exactly, one meter.

about a meter in length

Similar to "around a meter long", implying an approximate measurement.

measuring one meter

Focuses on the act of measurement, specifying the result.

with a length of one meter

More descriptive, emphasizing the length as a characteristic.

close to a meter long

Indicates a length that is nearly one meter.

just under a meter long

Specifies that the length is slightly less than one meter.

slightly over a meter long

Specifies that the length is a bit more than one meter.

of one meter length

Alternative phrasing emphasizing length as an attribute.

FAQs

How can I use "a meter long" in a sentence?

Use "a meter long" to describe the length of an object. For example, "The rope is "a meter long", making it suitable for the task."

What are some alternatives to saying "a meter long"?

Alternatives include "one meter in length", "approximately one meter", or "about a meter in length", depending on the level of precision required.

Is it correct to say "a meter long" or "one meter long"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a meter long" is more commonly used in general contexts. "One meter long" is used in formal contexts or when exactness is needed.

What's the difference between "a meter long" and "a meter in length"?

While both phrases convey the same meaning, "a meter long" is a more concise and commonly used expression. "A meter in length" is a slightly more formal alternative.