for a long time previously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for a long time previously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been the case for an extended period before a certain point in time. Example: "She had been living in the city for a long time previously, which made the transition to the countryside challenging."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He definitely didn't seem depressed right before his death, nor for a long time previously.

The New Yorker

The Maroon 5 frontman and "Voice" coach has looked forward to having kids for a long time, previously telling Ryan Seacrest that he wants "to have 100 kids". .

Huffington Post

But it stood as its own diagnosis for a long time, previously known as trichotillomania, and so there are a few things researchers have pinpointed that are specific to this disorder.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Basquiat's stock has been heading skyward for a long time; Maezawa previously paid $57.3 million for another "Untitled" painting.

The New Yorker

Chen's fellow activist Hu Jia stated that Chen had been planning escape for a long time, and had previously attempted to dig a tunnel for escape.

Wikipedia

Enhanced recognition can also result in an apparent change in the epidemiology of a zoonosis, for example, the recognition of an agent that has been present for a long time but was previously undetected because of lack of diagnostic tools.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

I've worked with her for a long time and we have previously tried to support her through some challenging times.

The Guardian

Terrified for her children, this woman has been at high risk for a long time: her situation was previously discussed at a Marac in another part of the country.

The Guardian

Lohora contains 17 species and Nirvanopsis was for a long time considered to be monobasic (previously as Nirvana), but now includes a recently described species, N. susah.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

These genotype-phenotype correlations have been conceived for a long time but were only partially probed previously in certain genes, e.g., EGFR, TP53, BRCA1, BRCA2, K-ras, and their pathways.

BMC Systems Biology

"For a long time, we've been doing one app, one story," explains iStoryTime co-founder Graham Farrar, who previously was a part of the founding team at Sonos.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "for a long time previously", ensure that the context clearly establishes the reference point in time. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the reader understands the sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "for a long time previously" when a simpler past perfect tense would suffice. For example, instead of saying "He had worked there for a long time previously before he quit", consider "He had worked there for a long time before he quit" or even "He worked there for a long time before quitting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for a long time previously" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating the duration of an action or state before a specific point in time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for a long time previously" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify a duration before a particular moment. Ludwig confirms its correctness. While its use is relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. Alternatives like "for an extended period beforehand" or "long before" may offer simpler phrasing in some cases. Remember to ensure clear context when employing this phrase to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for an extended period beforehand

Replaces "long time" with "extended period" and "previously" with "beforehand", emphasizing the duration and sequence.

for a considerable time prior

Substitutes "long time" with "considerable time" and "previously" with "prior", offering a more formal tone.

for quite some time beforehand

Adds "quite" to intensify the duration and uses "beforehand" instead of "previously".

for a long duration preceding this

Replaces "time previously" with the more formal "duration preceding this".

long before

This is shorter and more direct, omitting "for a long time" and focusing on the before.

for a good while earlier

Uses "good while" instead of "long time" and "earlier" instead of "previously", making it sound slightly less formal.

well in advance

Emphasizes acting or planning with plenty of lead time.

in the distant past

Focuses on the remoteness in time, differing from the original phrase's more immediate past reference.

for ages before

Replaces "a long time" with the idiom "ages", emphasizing a very long duration.

awhile back

A more casual and less precise way of saying something happened in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "for a long time previously" in a sentence?

Use "for a long time previously" to indicate that something was true or ongoing for an extended duration before a specific event or point in time. For example, "She had lived abroad "for a long time previously", so she was accustomed to different cultures".

What are some alternatives to "for a long time previously"?

Alternatives include phrases like "for an extended period beforehand", "for a considerable time prior", or simply "long before", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it redundant to use "for a long time previously"?

While not strictly redundant, "for a long time previously" can sometimes be shortened for clarity. The word "previously" already implies a duration before something else, so consider whether "for a long time before" would suffice. The best option will depend on context.

What's the difference between "for a long time before" and "for a long time previously"?

"For a long time before" is generally simpler and more direct. "For a long time previously" can add a subtle emphasis on the prior duration, but it's often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.