drawn-out

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'drawn-out' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that can be used to describe a process or activity that takes a long time or is delayed. For example: "It was a drawn-out process that took weeks to finish."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Thought Before Midnight was drawn-out?

The Guardian

We've had long drawn-out scraps.

The Guardian

The drawn-out goodbye was a ruse.

The Guardian

High drawn-out screams filled with loneliness.

The Guardian - Books

The governor's two-month selection process was needlessly drawn-out.

The Economist

It was certainly one of the most drawn-out.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Violent, passionate, and drawn out.

The New Yorker

Long and drawn out".

The Guardian - Arts

"Dream" was drawn out.

The New Yorker

Each idea was drawn out, flogged.

The New York Times - Arts

Its termination was cruelly drawn out.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drawn-out" to describe processes or events that take longer than expected or are unnecessarily prolonged. It often carries a negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "drawn-out" when simply describing something of considerable length; it implies unnecessary prolongation. Instead, use "lengthy" or "extended" if a neutral tone is desired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drawn-out" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe processes, events, or activities characterized by their extended duration. As seen in Ludwig, it often suggests the duration is unnecessarily long. For example, "a drawn-out legal process."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drawn-out" is an adjective used to describe something that takes an unnecessarily long time. Ludwig AI confirms that it's often employed with a negative connotation to express disapproval. While grammatically correct and commonly used, it's important to consider the context and choose a more neutral term like "lengthy" if no negative implication is intended. Its frequency is common, appearing mostly in news and media, wiki and science-related articles. Remember to use it to express something lasted too long, if something just lasted long without negative connotation use the word "lengthy" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

protracted

Focuses on the extension of something, often beyond what is necessary or desirable.

lengthy

Emphasizes the significant duration of something.

prolonged

Highlights the act of extending something in time.

extended

Simply indicates that something has been made longer.

lingering

Suggests something continues for longer than expected, often unpleasantly.

dragged out

Implies something is made to last longer than necessary, often tediously.

long-lasting

Highlights the durability and extended existence of something.

never-ending

Emphasizes the seemingly infinite duration of something, often hyperbolically.

long and slow

Emphasizes both duration and lack of speed.

unending

Suggests a lack of termination or conclusion.

FAQs

How can I use "drawn-out" in a sentence?

You can use "drawn-out" to describe something that takes longer than necessary. For example, "The negotiations were a "drawn-out" process.".

What are some alternatives to saying "drawn-out"?

Alternatives to "drawn-out" include "protracted", "lengthy", or "prolonged", depending on the specific context.

Is "drawn-out" formal or informal?

"Drawn-out" is generally considered neutral but can lean towards informal, especially in conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using "protracted".

What is the difference between "drawn-out" and "lengthy"?

"Drawn-out" suggests an unnecessary or tedious extension of time, while "lengthy" simply describes something of considerable duration without implying negativity.