after this long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after this long" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an extended period of time that has elapsed since some event happened. Example: "It's been five years since I last saw them, and after this long I'm finally ready to get in touch again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"After this long, our wedding is a big deal.

The New York Times

After this long, strange awards trip, the Bagger feels like a nonagenarian, too.

The New York Times

But he said he felt strong and well after this long tournament.

The New York Times - Sports

So after this long journey of 30 days, I feel terrific.

The New York Times

"I was a mess when I arrived after this long trip," says Ignacio.

The Guardian

Or what he'd say, how he'd bring it up, after this long.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

I also hope that after this long-ass day, Darius saved him some of that toe jam tortellini he made cause I know that burger didn't hold him over burning all them calories in the woods all day.

Huffington Post

After this long-term challenge there were no differences in serum enzymes and cytokine levels, but a significantly higher severity of interstitial inflammation in the pancreas of transgenic mice (figure. 4e).

BMC Gastroenterology

"After all this long work, I am more convinced than ever" by the study's data.

The New York Times - Health

After all this long time, I saw my family again".

BBC

So you cannot give up after working this long for what you want!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after this long" to clearly indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since a prior event or situation, influencing the present context.

Common error

Avoid using "after this long" when a shorter time frame is more appropriate. This phrase best suits contexts where the duration is a key factor in the current situation. Be mindful of not using it for all time periods.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after this long" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the time elapsed before a subsequent action or state. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after this long" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as a prepositional phrase, signaling the passage of a significant amount of time and influencing subsequent events. Its use is most common in news, science, and formal business contexts and its register is mostly neutral. Related phrases can offer nuanced alternatives, while being aware of the emphasis is important to avoid misapplication of the phrase in irrelevant contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following this extended period

Emphasizes the duration of the period that has passed.

subsequent to this lengthy duration

Highlights the duration and its impact on what follows.

after such a prolonged time

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the duration.

once this considerable time has elapsed

Highlights the completion of the time period.

later in this drawn-out period

Indicates a point further along in an already lengthy period.

given this significant lapse of time

Focuses on the effects of the time that has passed.

after this considerable delay

Emphasizes the waiting aspect of the duration.

following this extensive interval

Uses more formal vocabulary to describe the time period.

in the wake of this protracted span

Emphasizes what comes as a consequence of the long duration.

with this extended history behind us

Highlights the accumulation of events over the period.

FAQs

How can I use "after this long" in a sentence?

Use "after this long" to indicate a considerable duration has passed since something occurred. For instance: "After this long, I've finally decided to pursue my dreams."

What phrases are similar to "after this long"?

Similar phrases include "following this extended period", "subsequent to this lengthy duration", or "after such a prolonged time".

Is "after this long" formal or informal?

"After this long" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts depending on the surrounding vocabulary.

What's the difference between "after this long" and "after a short while"?

"After this long" implies a substantial amount of time has passed, while "after a short while" indicates only a brief duration. The choice depends on the context and the actual length of time being referenced.