for long been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for long been" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a sense of duration but is missing a necessary component to be grammatically correct. Example: "They have long been waiting for this moment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The laws of learning that he formulated have for long been a staple of teacher-training courses in many countries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The New Yorker, November 18, 1939 P. 15 Talk story about Edward J. McNamara, who has for long been something of a specialist in cop roles.

The New Yorker

But if weird, freakish insects don't obviously resemble us physically, the behaviour of the so-called "social" insects (all termites and ants, some wasps and bees) has for long been regarded as instructive and, indeed, exemplary.

The Guardian - Books

Fujimori had for long been the favourite to win the election, but support for her melted away in the final days of campaigning as Peruvians weighed the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori, and fresh scandals involving her close advisers.

The Guardian

By Harold Ross and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, November 18 , 1939P. 15 Talk story about Edward J. McNamara, who has for long been something of a specialist in cop roles.

The New Yorker

That will relegate existing utilities to the role of mere providers, while allowing the new owners of power generation to set prices freely, without the oversight that has for long been built into the system.

The New York Times

Iraq has for long been a divided nation; it has been a state since it was created in 1921 after World War I in search of a united nation but which, to this day, remains divided along ethnic and sectarian boundaries.

Independent

Audi's commitment to "Truth in Engineering" has for long been true on many levels.

TechCrunch

Isolated P450 monooxygenases have for long been neglected catalysts in enzyme technology.

Journal of Biotechnology

Resource provisioning has for long been an important area of research in network design.

Computer Networks

The discrete time Fourier transform (DTFT) has for long been used for non-parametric measurement of frequency response functions (FRF).

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "for long been" in formal writing. Instead, use grammatically correct alternatives like "has long been", "have long been", or "for a long time".

Common error

A common mistake is to confuse "for long been" with the correct present perfect constructions such as "has long been" or "have long been". Remember to include the auxiliary verb ("has" or "have") before "long" to form a grammatically sound sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for long been" is an incorrect attempt to create a present perfect passive construction. It appears to be missing the auxiliary verb ('has' or 'have') required for proper tense formation. As Ludwig AI reports, this is an error in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for long been" is frequently encountered, as Ludwig AI indicates, but it's crucial to recognize that it's grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is usually to express that something has existed or been the case for a significant duration. However, the absence of the auxiliary verb "has" or "have" renders the phrase non-standard. Proper alternatives include "has long been", "have long been", or "for a long time". While examples of "for long been" can be found across various sources, especially in scientific and news-related contexts, it's advisable to avoid it in favor of grammatically sound alternatives, particularly in formal or professional writing. Remember to use auxiliary verbs or prepositional phrases to accurately convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has long been

Reorders the words and uses 'has' to create a grammatically sound present perfect construction.

have long been

Uses 'have' to create a grammatically sound present perfect construction for plural subjects.

for a long time

Replaces "long been" with a prepositional phrase indicating duration.

for quite some time

Similar to "for a long time" but emphasizes a slightly longer duration.

over the long term

Focuses on the duration aspect, emphasizing a long-lasting period.

for many years

Specifies the duration in terms of years.

for an extended period

Emphasizes the lengthy nature of the duration.

for a considerable time

Highlights that the duration is significant or substantial.

long-standing

Conveys the idea of something that has existed or been in place for a long duration, often describing traditions or practices.

established history

Focuses on the well-established nature of something over a period.

FAQs

Is "for long been" grammatically correct?

No, "for long been" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's often a result of misusing the present perfect tense. You should use constructions like "has long been" or "have long been" instead.

What phrases can I use instead of "for long been"?

Alternatives include "has long been", "have long been", "for a long time", or "for quite some time", depending on the intended meaning and context.

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

"For long been" is grammatically incorrect, whereas "for a long time" is a correct prepositional phrase indicating duration. Use "for a long time" to express that something has occurred over an extended period.

How can I properly use the present perfect tense with "long"?

To use "long" correctly in the present perfect tense, ensure you include the auxiliary verb "has" or "have" before "long been". For example: "It has long been known" or "They have long been friends".