has long said

USAGE SUMMARY

"has long said" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has been said for a long period of time. For example, "The teacher has long said that students should always strive to do their best."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Chinese government has long said it protects "human rights".

The Economist

Sather has long said he is comfortable in the West.

The New York Times - Sports

The agency has long said it has no authority over executions.

The New York Times

The union has long said it believes the owners have been preparing for a lockout.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Bloomberg has long said he does not like to bargain in public.

The New York Times

Prachanda has long said he would become the first president of a Nepalese republic.

The Economist

Mr. Romney has long said he would be tougher on China than Mr. Obama.

The New York Times

Paterno has long said that he, too, would know when it is his time.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Romney has long said abortion should be legal in cases of rape.

The New York Times

America has long said it believes independence for Iraqi Kurdistan would destabilise that country.

The Economist

Mr. McCain has long said border control must be a prelude to larger reforms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has long said" to emphasize the duration and consistency of a statement, especially when it contrasts with a recent change or development.

Common error

Avoid using "has long said" when the long duration is already implied. For example, saying "The company has long said it values innovation, but it has only invested 1% of the total revenues on R&D in the last decade" is not adding significant value if the recent action is already implying that they didn't.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has long said" functions as a reporting verb phrase, indicating that someone has made a statement consistently over a significant period of time. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which shows numerous examples in news and media contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has long said" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase for indicating that someone has consistently made a statement over time. As Ludwig's analysis and examples show, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts and serves to emphasize the duration and consistency of a statement. Remember to use it when you want to highlight that a particular view has been held for an extended period, and avoid redundancy by ensuring the duration isn't already implied. Overall, it’s a reliable phrase for conveying a sense of consistency and history.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has consistently stated

Emphasizes the unchanging nature of the statement.

has repeatedly asserted

Highlights the forceful and iterative nature of the statement.

has often expressed

Focuses on the frequency with which the statement is voiced.

has maintained for years

Highlights the long duration over which the statement has been held.

has always claimed

Implies a potential questioning of the statement's validity.

has traditionally held

Indicates a belief or opinion passed down through generations or customs.

has historically argued

Suggests the statement is part of a larger debate or historical context.

has previously indicated

Implies prior articulation of the statement.

has declared in the past

Highlights the past pronouncements of a declaration.

has voiced for some time

Indicates the act of voicing and the duration of it.

FAQs

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

Use "has long said" to indicate that someone has consistently stated something over a significant period. For example, "The CEO "has long said" that customer satisfaction is their top priority."

What are some alternatives to "has long said"?

You can use alternatives like "has consistently stated", "has repeatedly asserted", or "has often expressed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "has long said" or "said for a long time"?

"Has long said" is generally more concise and idiomatic than "said for a long time" when emphasizing the repeated nature of the statement.

What does it imply when someone "has long said" something?

It implies that the person or entity has consistently held a particular view or made a specific statement over a considerable duration, suggesting a firm and established position. It often highlights a contrast with new information or changing circumstances.