exist for a long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "exist for a long time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an object or thing that has endured for a long period of time. For example: "The music industry has existed for a long time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

And they will not exist for a long time".

The New York Times

We don't know what will happen in the end, but this awareness will exist for a long time".

The Guardian

If it becomes successful, the team and mission will exist for a long time". Angie's List cofounder Angie Hicks holds weekly office hours to hear concerns from employees.

Harvard Business Review

"If we had gone down the road of changing the rules, this institution would have ceased to exist for a long time," he said.

The New York Times

It has been demonstrated that the transgenic microorganism Escherichia coli Z905/pPHL7 (AprLux+) can exist for a long time at an elevated concentration of mineral salts.

Advances in Space Research

Even though ray tracing programs exist for a long time, for example the seis88 package by Červený, most of those programs use a numerical approach to compute the ray.

Computer Physics Communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Three years on, its experience provides three lessons for regulators in other countries, says Peter Phillips, an Ofcom strategist.First, converged services and existing services will co-exist for a long time, "so you can't just jump straight to a solution".

The Economist

Interconnect prediction models have existed for a long time.

Three-dimensional Integrated Circuit Design

Terms like "virtual reality" and "augmented reality" have existed for a long time.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"They're talking about a culture and a climate that existed for a long time".

The New York Times

There's a mutual respect that's existed for a long time.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing abstract concepts or long-term societal trends, use "exist for a long time" to emphasize their enduring nature and historical significance. For example, "Social inequalities have existed for a long time, requiring sustained efforts to address them."

Common error

While grammatically sound, "exist for a long time" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "been around for ages" or "last a while" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exist for a long time" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the duration or longevity of something. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's used to describe the prolonged presence or continuation of a thing, concept, or phenomenon.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "exist for a long time" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe the prolonged duration of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across diverse contexts, including news, science, and general knowledge. The phrase functions to emphasize the enduring nature of a subject and is most suited for neutral to formal registers. While it’s a reliable expression, consider simpler alternatives for casual settings. The context distribution shows that while commonly used in news and scientific articles, it can also be found across less frequent contexts like academia and encyclopedias.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

endure for an extended period

Emphasizes the ability to withstand or last through a significant amount of time, highlighting resilience.

persist over a considerable duration

Focuses on the ongoing nature of something, indicating that it continues to exist or happen despite challenges.

remain extant for years

Highlights the state of still being in existence for a number of years, implying a sense of survival.

continue to be for a prolonged period

Underscores the continuation of a state or condition for a lengthy amount of time, stressing uninterrupted existence.

last for an appreciable amount of time

Stresses the duration of something, implying that it lasts long enough to be noticed or considered significant.

have a long-lasting presence

Emphasizes the continued impact or effect of something over an extended period.

be around for the foreseeable future

Indicates that something is expected to continue existing for as long as can be reasonably predicted.

prove durable over time

Highlights the ability of something to withstand wear, pressure, or damage over an extended period, suggesting reliability.

carry on for a sustained interval

Focuses on the act of continuing or progressing without interruption for a noticeable period.

hold up for a good while

Suggests that something maintains its condition or functionality for a reasonably long time, indicating resilience or quality.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "exist for a long time" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "persist over a considerable duration" or "remain extant for years" which convey a similar meaning with a heightened level of formality.

Is "exist for a long time" the same as "has existed for a long time"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct and share a similar meaning, "has existed for a long time" is in the present perfect tense, indicating that something started in the past and continues to the present. "Exist for a long time" is a more general statement about the potential duration of something.

What is a more casual way to say "exist for a long time"?

In informal settings, you could use phrases like "been around for ages" or "last a while" to convey the same idea in a more relaxed manner.

When is it appropriate to use "exist for a long time" in writing?

It's appropriate to use "exist for a long time" in academic, journalistic, or formal writing when you want to emphasize the enduring nature of a concept, phenomenon, or entity. It is well-suited for discussing long-term trends, historical facts, or persistent societal issues.