fairly long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fairly long time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration that is longer than average but not excessively long. Example: "I haven't seen her in a fairly long time, and I miss our conversations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

"That's a fairly long time," Winckler said.

The New Yorker

That will not fundamentally change for a fairly long time.

The Guardian

But he knelt there for a fairly long time, and seemed to be praying.

The New Yorker

It has been a fairly long time, six years, since you last released a studio recording.

The New York Times - Magazine

"But we have been building vehicles in space for a fairly long time.

The New York Times

So you have this enormous overbuilding, which will take a fairly long time to overcome.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

It displays a fairly long maturation time (half time of 2.8 h) and is 1.5 times brighter than mCherry as measured by the authors, but is slightly less photostable.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

The pricing isn't permanent, but it's available for a fairly long "limited time," and that should give potential buyers plenty of time to decide whether they're interested in picking up the Rift.

TechCrunch

Since a fairly long duration time is required, the pre-stretched technique has been chosen.

International Journal of Impact Engineering

A fairly long reverberation time in the 63 Hz octave band is found to be acceptable, so the 125 Hz octave band is probably the single most important band to control for amplified music.

Applied Acoustics

In other words, IT need fairly a long time within which the employee learn how to work and apply it in practice.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse; if you find yourself using "fairly long time" repeatedly, consider rephrasing some instances with more specific durations or alternative expressions.

Common error

While "fairly long time" is acceptable, be mindful of vagueness. If precision is important, use a more specific time frame (e.g., "several years" or "more than a decade") instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fairly long time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause by specifying the duration of an action or state. As Ludwig AI states, it indicates a duration that is longer than average but not excessively long. The examples show it modifying verbs like "building", "take" and nouns like "period".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fairly long time" is a versatile expression used to indicate a duration that exceeds the average but isn't excessively extended. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, making it a common phrase in both spoken and written English. While widely acceptable, remember that it has a Neutral register, so, in highly formal or academic settings, consider more specific language. While its usage is high across News & Media, Science, and Academia, being mindful of potential vagueness is key; if greater precision is needed, opt for more specific time references. Over all this expression is a useful tool for specifying duration, but as with any adjective expression, context is king.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended period

Focuses on the length of the period, implying it's beyond the usual or expected.

considerable duration

Replaces the more casual "fairly long time" with a more formal and emphatic term.

significant timeframe

Emphasizes the importance or impact of the duration in question.

appreciable time

Emphasizes that the time is noticeable and significant.

decent amount of time

Suggests the length of time is reasonable or adequate for a particular purpose.

notable length of time

Highlights the remarkableness or importance of the duration.

sizeable duration

Focuses on the amount of time, indicating it is considerable.

substantial interval

A more formal and less common way to describe a significant duration.

good while

Informal way to express the duration, implying the time was moderately long.

protracted period

Indicates the duration is longer than desirable or expected, possibly with negative connotations.

FAQs

How can I use "fairly long time" in a sentence?

You can use "fairly long time" to indicate a duration that is longer than average but not excessively so. For example, "It has been a "fairly long time" since we last met."

What's a more formal alternative to "fairly long time"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "considerable duration" or "extended period".

Is "fairly long time" too vague for academic writing?

It can be. In academic writing, it's often better to provide a more specific timeframe if possible. If not, consider alternatives like "significant timeframe".

What's the difference between "fairly long time" and "very long time"?

"Fairly long time" indicates a duration that is moderately long, while "very long time" suggests a much more extended duration. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.