has been a protracted process

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been a protracted process" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or task that has taken a long time to complete or resolve. Example: "The negotiations have been a protracted process, lasting several months without a clear resolution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Somerset's recruitment of overseas players for this season has been a protracted process.

BBC

Political and economic reform has been a protracted process, but ever since the bubble economy burst in 1991 and the post-war "iron triangle" of close ties between politicians, businesses and the bureaucracy became unsustainable, the Liberal-Democratic power-base has weakened.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Data entry has been a protracted and demanding process, taking nearly three years, but ultimately we created a dataset containing 19,995 patient records.

Huffington Post

The end of Communism is a protracted process.

The New York Times - Books

Theranos can appeal any penalties, and a grand jury investigation could be a protracted process.

The New York Times

As the consequences of tougher sanctions might hit countries differently, getting that approval could be a protracted process.

BBC

But, still, my position was that German unification should be a protracted process.

Huffington Post

Fix What You Can Today: Adding spectrum capacity is a protracted process.

Huffington Post

This can be a protracted process [ 22, 46, 47], and one that is currently being pursued.

BMC Infectious Diseases

This is not what usually occurs in the development of a human GBM, where neoplastic transformation is a protracted process.

ASN Neuro

The outcome has been a near-certainty for months, the process farcically protracted.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been a protracted process", ensure the context clearly indicates what process is being referred to and why its duration is significant. This enhances clarity and emphasizes the impact of the extended timeframe.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice when using "has been a protracted process". Instead of saying "The decision has been a protracted process", consider "The decision-making process has been protracted" for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been a protracted process" functions as a descriptor, characterizing a specific event or series of actions as lengthy and often more complex than initially anticipated. This is supported by Ludwig, indicating its appropriate usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been a protracted process" is a commonly used phrase to describe events or tasks that have taken a considerable amount of time, often with implications of difficulty or complexity. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While there are alternatives like ""lengthy process"" or "prolonged process", the original phrase effectively conveys the sense of an extended duration. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the specific process and its significance to enhance the message's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been a drawn-out process

Replaces "protracted" with "drawn-out", maintaining a similar sense of length and extension.

has been a lengthy process

Substitutes "protracted" with "lengthy", emphasizing the extended duration.

has been a prolonged process

Replaces "protracted" with "prolonged", highlighting the extended timeframe.

has been an extended process

Uses "extended" in place of "protracted", focusing on the stretched duration.

has been a time-consuming process

Emphasizes the amount of time the process has taken.

has been a long and involved process

Adds "involved" to highlight the complexity alongside the length.

has been a gradual process

Shifts the focus to the slow, step-by-step nature of the process.

has been a tortuous process

Highlights the difficulty and pain associated with the process.

has been a never-ending process

Emphasizes the seemingly infinite duration of the process.

has been a snail-paced process

Uses a metaphor to describe the slow speed of the process.

FAQs

What does "has been a protracted process" mean?

It means that a particular task, negotiation, or event has taken a long time to develop or conclude, often longer than expected or desired.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "has been a protracted process"?

This phrase is suitable when describing situations where something has taken considerably longer than anticipated, especially when the delay has caused frustration or complications. For a more neutral description, consider "lengthy process".

Are there more formal alternatives to "has been a protracted process"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "the process was extended" or "the process was prolonged" in more formal settings.

How can I avoid using passive voice with "has been a protracted process"?

Instead of saying "The negotiations have been a protracted process", try "The negotiation process has been protracted", which is more direct.