a rather lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is longer than usual, such as a document, speech, or explanation. Example: "The report was a rather lengthy analysis of the company's financial performance over the last decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

For a rather lengthy list of potential problems to worry about, see Tom Herbig's Little Shop of Horrors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We have just posted a rather lengthy announcement on bspace with more guidelines and details about the research project presentations.

University of California, Berkeley

This required a rather lengthy online search through the SHARP web site until documentation for a similar product was uncovered.

Cornell University

The timing of the key votes on Saturday was unclear, but it will be a rather lengthy process.

The New York Times

They used the information to create a rather lengthy profile of me, in which I was presented as a sinister neoconservative thinktank "operative".

The Guardian - Opinion

It seems a rather lengthy and tedious report of what, after all, is a routine writing task created by a problem of minor importance.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

A rather lengthy-looking box will pop up.

WikiHow

The time scale for the development of a product is rather lengthy.

Fashion and Textiles

A better description, although rather lengthy, would perhaps be "numerical integration of master equations", but in line with previous authors we will stick to using the term "master equation method" in the remainder of this review.

Chemical Reviews

The requirements for Yale students are rather lengthy — develop an op-ed article about social change with an eye toward publication; write one- to two-page weekly "concept sheets'" on topics discussed in class; take a midterm and final and do a final project.

The New York Times

Pictures of the future are descriptions of a future state of affairs, sometimes rather lengthy narrative ones, sometimes rather short ones with only some key figures about society, economy etc.

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a rather lengthy", ensure the context justifies the qualification. It implies the length is noticeable or perhaps unexpected. Omit "rather" if the length is a neutral fact.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "rather" in your writing. While "a rather lengthy" is acceptable, excessive use of "rather" can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural. Choose stronger adjectives for more impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather lengthy" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun, indicating that the noun possesses a considerable degree of length. This is consistent with the Ludwig AI examples where it modifies words like "process", "conversation", or "report".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

20%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rather lengthy" is a commonly used adjective phrase that describes something as being longer than usual. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse fields, predominantly in news and media, science and academia. While the phrase is suitable for neutral contexts, remember that "rather" adds a degree of emphasis and should be used judiciously. Consider alternatives like "somewhat extended" or "fairly prolonged" for less formal scenarios or "considerably extensive" for more formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a somewhat extended

Uses "extended" for length, suggesting a greater duration or scope than "lengthy".

a fairly prolonged

Emphasizes the duration of time something takes, rather than its physical length.

a considerably extensive

Suggests a large scope or range, applicable when referring to documents or processes.

a notably protracted

More formal, implying an unnecessary or tedious length.

a remarkably long-lasting

Focuses on the duration and implies a sense of impressiveness about the length.

a significantly sustained

Highlights the continuation of something over a period of time, adding emphasis to the endurance.

a relatively elaborate

Implies complexity and detail rather than simple length.

an unusually drawn-out

Suggests the length is excessive and potentially tedious.

an exceptionally sustained

Emphasizes the continuation of something over a period of time, adding emphasis to the endurance.

a tediously extensive

Stronger negative connotation implying boredom due to excessive length.

FAQs

How can I use "a rather lengthy" in a sentence?

Use "a rather lengthy" to describe something that is longer or more extensive than usual. For example, "The process involved "a rather lengthy negotiation"" or "The document was "a rather lengthy report"".

What's a more formal way to say "a rather lengthy"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a considerably extensive", "a notably protracted", or "a remarkably long-lasting".

What's a less formal alternative to "a rather lengthy"?

For a less formal alternative, consider using "a somewhat extended" or "a fairly prolonged".

Is it always necessary to include "rather" before "lengthy"?

No, the inclusion of "rather" implies that the length is somewhat surprising or noteworthy. If the length is simply a neutral fact, omitting "rather" is often preferable. For example "a lengthy process" instead of "a rather lengthy process".