has long left

USAGE SUMMARY

"has long left" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that happened a long time ago. For example, "The family that used to live here has long left."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The purity of the movement's principles has long left it in self-imposed isolation.

The New York Times

But she has long left the Catholic Church and attends a Methodist church.

The New York Times

Fuller has long left it up to the public to help take back the true legacy of Dancer's Image.

The New York Times

The tailgating revelry, sideline star-gazing and general feel of witnessing an event has long left Troy.

The New York Times - Sports

Danny MacAskill has long left Edinburgh in his camper van and is riding his stunt bike all over the world.

The Guardian

Syria has long left deliberately ambiguous what exactly it possesses in terms of chemical weapons, with government leaders only rarely discussing them.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Piece by piece, Robinson unfolded a back story he had long left untold.

The New York Times

The Irish have long left home in search of work abroad, in Britain, the United States and elsewhere.

The Economist

But those kinds of jobs have long left people unable to keep up with soaring real estate prices.

The New York Times

No trolleys to dodge in L.A. The Braves have long left Boston, What became of the Bees anyway?

The New York Times

On 30 June, my stepmother called to say he didn't have long left, and I'd better come up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has long left" to emphasize that a subject's departure or abandonment occurred a considerable time ago, adding a sense of finality or historical distance to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "has long left" when referring to recent departures or situations where the time frame is not significantly in the past. Opt for simpler tenses like "has left" for more immediate contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has long left" functions as a stative verb phrase indicating a completed action (leaving) that occurred a significant time ago. As Ludwig AI underlines, it emphasizes the duration since the departure, adding a sense of finality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has long left" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a past departure or abandonment, with emphasis on the elapsed time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media sources. Use it to add a sense of finality or historical distance. Avoid it when referring to recent departures, and be mindful of the subtle difference compared to other alternatives such as "departed long ago".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departed long ago

Focuses on the action of leaving and the time elapsed since the departure.

exited a long time ago

Emphasizes the action of exiting and the duration since then.

abandoned a while back

Highlights the act of abandoning something and the indefinite time in the past.

relinquished long since

Focuses on giving up or releasing something a considerable time ago.

moved on a long time ago

Emphasizes the act of progressing forward from something in the distant past.

left in the distant past

Stresses the remoteness in time of the act of leaving.

forsaken a long while ago

Highlights the abandonment or desertion in the past.

long gone from

Implies a state of being absent or departed for an extended period.

withdrew ages ago

Emphasizes the act of pulling back from something in the remote past.

separated from long since

Focuses on the act of becoming detached or disconnected from something long ago.

FAQs

How can I use "has long left" in a sentence?

Use "has long left" to indicate that someone or something departed or abandoned a place, situation, or relationship a considerable time ago. For example, "The company "has long left" its original headquarters."

What are some alternatives to "has long left"?

Alternatives include "departed long ago", "exited a long time ago", or "abandoned a while back", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "has left" and "has long left"?

"Has left" indicates a simple departure, while "has long left" emphasizes that the departure occurred significantly in the past. The phrase "has long left" adds a sense of time and finality that "has left" does not.

Is "has long left" formal or informal?

The phrase "has long left" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is more commonly found in written communication or news reports. It's a neutral expression suitable for many situations.