after long long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after long long time" is not correct in standard written English.
A more appropriate form would be "after a long, long time." You can use it to express that a significant amount of time has passed before something occurred. Example: "After a long, long time, I finally found the book I had been searching for."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's definitely not as much action as there should be but just the fact that action is being taken and attention is being paid after a long, long time of the authorities turning a blind eye makes me happy," she said.

The Guardian

For these men, it was finally time to hold their children once again in their arms -- some for the first time -- to touch their wives' lips, to hug their loved ones after such a long, long time -- after such an almost unbearable ordeal.

Huffington Post

In a poignant real-life fairy tale, Oona O'Neill fell in love with Charlie Chaplin and lived happily, not ever after, but for a long, long time.

The New York Times - Magazine

Lucy Foster, who has been helping to run the operation, said the village had been "looking after itself for a long, long time and morale was getting very low, energy levels were getting low".

BBC

And yes, that professor did look after the dog at his own place for a long long time after that.

TechCrunch

"The warden sat with me for a long, long time after that.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Garry Monk, his first game in a long, long time after his back injury and other players as well.

BBC

"I have not felt as low as this after a rugby match for a long, long time".

The Guardian - Sport

After thinking about it for a long, long time, I came up with something different.

Huffington Post

"They have their form for a long long time -- just after the dinosaurs.

The New York Times

Falling two spots in a few years after being No. 3 for a long, long, long time is remarkable".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to emphasize a very long time, use "after a long, long time" or "after a very long time" for grammatically correct phrasing. Also you can replace the incorrect phrasing by alternatives that fit the context as "after a prolonged period".

Common error

Avoid using the ungrammatical phrase "after long long time". Instead, opt for grammatically correct and clearer alternatives like "after a long time" or "after a very long time" to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing. Consider that a language editing tool can help you with that.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after long long time" is intended to function as a temporal adverbial phrase, indicating when an action or event occurred relative to a significant duration. However, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after long long time" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it should be replaced with "after a long time" or "after a very long time". While the intention behind the phrase is to emphasize the duration of time, the incorrect construction undermines its effectiveness. For clearer and more credible writing, it's best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "after a considerable duration" or "following an extended timeframe". Therefore, avoid using the phrase "after long long time" in formal or professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after a lengthy interval

A more neutral and concise way of indicating a long wait.

after a prolonged period

Emphasizes the length of the time involved using stronger vocabulary.

after a significant lapse of time

Highlights the interruption or pause before the event occurred.

after a considerable duration

Replaces the informal repetition with a more formal term for a significant time span.

after a seemingly endless wait

Focuses on the frustrating aspect of the long wait.

following an extended timeframe

Uses a more technical or detached tone, suitable for formal contexts.

after what seemed like an eternity

Introduces a subjective sense of how long the time felt.

after what felt like forever

Similar to 'eternity' but slightly less formal.

after many years

Specifies the time frame more concretely.

following an age

Uses hyperbole to emphasize the length of the time.

FAQs

How can I correctly express a significant duration using the phrase "after long long time"?

The correct way to express a significant duration is by saying "after a long time" or "after a very long time". The repetition in "after long long time" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to saying "after long long time"?

You can use alternatives like "after a considerable duration", "after a prolonged period", or "following an extended timeframe" depending on the context.

Which is the correct phrase, "after long long time" or "after a long time"?

"After a long time" is the correct and grammatically sound phrase. "After long long time" is not standard English and should be avoided.

Is "after long long time" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "after long long time" is not grammatically correct and is not suitable for formal writing. Use "after a long time" or more formal alternatives instead.