for long a time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for long a time" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an awkward construction and is not commonly used. Example: "I have been waiting for long a time, but no one has arrived."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Although the good human performance on the TSP has been known for long a time [25], recent studies have shown that this performance is very close to optimal and is competitive with heuristics on relatively small instances [26] [36].

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For a long time?

The New York Times

For a long time it….

The New Yorker

Not for a long time.

The New Yorker

But for a long time it did.

The New Yorker

I regretted him for a long time.

The New Yorker

I slept for a long time.

The New Yorker

She nursed for a long time.

The New Yorker

They kept yelling for a long time.

The New York Times

For a long time, Google was evil.

The New Yorker

Have for a long time, years.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "for long a time" in formal writing. Opt for the more common and grammatically sound alternative, "for a long time".

Common error

The phrase "for long a time" is an example of incorrect article usage. Always use "a long time" instead. This ensures clarity and adheres to standard English grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for long a time" functions as an adverbial phrase, attempting to modify a verb by indicating duration. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not standard English and is considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "for a long time".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "for long a time" is considered grammatically incorrect and is rarely used in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's an awkward construction. The correct and widely accepted alternative is ""for a long time"". While there's a single example found by Ludwig originating from scientific source, this is likely an exception rather than a common practice. It's best to avoid "for long a time" in both formal and informal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. Consider using alternatives like ""for an extended period"" or ""over a lengthy period"" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a long time

Replaces the awkward "long a" construction with the standard "a long".

for an extended period

Substitutes "long a time" with a more formal and precise term.

for a considerable duration

Uses "considerable duration" to highlight a significant length of time.

over a lengthy period

Replaces "for" with "over" and "long a time" with "lengthy period", focusing on the span of time.

for many years

Specifies the duration in terms of years, adding concreteness.

for quite some time

Emphasizes duration using "quite some time", implying it was longer than expected.

during a prolonged interval

Uses formal language like "prolonged interval" to convey a sense of extended time.

throughout an extensive period

Replaces "for" with "throughout" and uses "extensive period" to suggest a broad timeframe.

for ages

Uses the idiomatic expression "for ages" to mean a very long time.

for a good while

Employs "good while" to informally indicate a substantial duration.

FAQs

Why is "for long a time" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "for long a time" is not standard English. The correct and commonly used phrase is "for a long time", which follows established grammatical patterns.

What's a simple substitute for "for long a time"?

The easiest replacement is "for a long time". It's grammatically correct and widely understood.

Are there more formal alternatives to "for long a time"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "for an extended period" or "over a lengthy period" to sound more formal. Just avoid "for long a time".

When is it acceptable to use "for long a time"?

It's generally not acceptable in formal or standard English. While you might encounter it rarely, it's best to stick with "for a long time" or similar alternatives for clarity and correctness.