a touch lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a touch lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat long or extended, often in a slightly informal or conversational context. Example: "The report was informative, but I found it to be a touch lengthy for my attention span."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Monday and Tuesday are expected to be dry with lengthy sunny spells and a warm afternoon, although perhaps a touch less warm than the weekend.

BBC

A touch.

The New York Times - Arts

In New York, one of Ellison's senior advisers, Tom Ehman, was putting the finishing touches to a lengthy deposition to be lodged today (Monday) with the New York Court of Appeals.

Independent

His message touched on a lengthy list of challenges, but his appearance here could simply be boiled down to this: Barack Hussein Obama was standing on the podium in this Muslim capital as the American president.

The New York Times

It was a decision that rankled some locales as the most recent example of England's flaunting its will over Scotland, and it eventually touched off a lengthy debate in the Scottish Parliament that devolved into the centuries-old debate about Scottish independence.

The New York Times - Sports

The announcement touched off a lengthy debate in Parliament over whether the inquiry would settle the most contentious questions of how political leaders used intelligence findings to support the assertion that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat to the region and to "the stability of the world," as Mr. Blair warned in September 2002.

The New York Times

Kejriwal launched into a lengthy stemwinder, touching on his main campaign themes of corruption, rising food prices, women's safety and the city's water and power shortages.

The Washington Post

And everyone wants a bit of Biden, who combines the common touch with a lengthy career and the extraordinary loss of his first wife, daughter and son.

The Washington Post

Becoming a nun is a lengthy affair.

The New York Times

It also means a moratorium on multi-billion pound contracts for ID and other gargantuan databases, and a promise to protect the Human Rights Act - a pledge not to touch it without lengthy and cross-party deliberation on how to enhance, not diminish, its protection.

The Guardian - Opinion

The measure united both camps — combining the gender-neutral touch with a lengthy paid leave supported by upholders of traditional family values.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a touch lengthy" to subtly suggest something is longer than ideal without being overly critical. It is useful in situations where tact is needed.

Common error

Avoid using "a touch lengthy" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise alternatives like "slightly extended" or "moderately long" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a touch lengthy" functions as an adjective phrase used to describe something that is slightly longer than expected or desired. It modifies nouns, indicating a mild degree of lengthiness. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a touch lengthy" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe something that is slightly long. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While not extremely common, its use is versatile across various contexts, although more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional settings. Its function is to subtly suggest that something is longer than ideal without being overly critical. Related phrases such as "slightly long" or "somewhat extended" can be used interchangeably depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A bit lengthy

Substitutes "a touch" with "a bit", offering a more informal tone.

Kind of lengthy

Offers a more casual and conversational alternative.

Slightly long

Replaces "a touch" with "slightly", indicating a minor degree of length.

Moderately long

Replaces "a touch" with "moderately", providing a slightly more formal alternative.

A shade lengthy

Uses "a shade" to denote a minimal increase in length.

Somewhat extended

Uses "somewhat" and "extended" to convey a similar sense of moderate lengthiness.

Somewhat prolonged

Uses "prolonged" to indicate that the length is extended in time.

A trifle long

Uses "a trifle" to indicate a small degree of lengthiness, similar to "a touch".

Marginally extended

Uses "marginally" to emphasize the small degree of extension in length.

Barely lengthy

Implies that something is only just on the border of being considered lengthy.

FAQs

What does "a touch lengthy" mean?

The phrase "a touch lengthy" means slightly or somewhat long. It suggests that something is a little longer than expected or desired.

What can I say instead of "a touch lengthy"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly long", "somewhat extended", or "a bit lengthy" depending on the context.

Is "a touch lengthy" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a touch lengthy" might be considered too informal for very formal writing. In such cases, consider using more precise or professional alternatives like "moderately long" or "slightly extended".

How to use "a touch lengthy" in a sentence?

You can use "a touch lengthy" to describe something that is slightly longer than it should be, for example: "The presentation was informative, but perhaps a bit lengthy for a quick overview."