highly long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly long" is not correct and is not typically used in written English.
It is generally redundant, as "highly" is an adverb that does not effectively modify the adjective "long." Example: "The highly long report took several hours to read."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The tubes are highly long (~3 µm) and curved with some open tips.

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

In addition, the SAXS profiles possess a sharp primary peak and highly long range ordered reflections q/q∗ ratios of 1 2 3 at lower PVP content, an indication of the lamellar structure in the blend which is consistent with TEM image.

Polymer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

2 The use of SM as an incapacitating warfare agent in the past century, particularly in WWI and the Iraq Iran conflict, has proved its highly long-lasting toxic effects.

Emerging Health Threats Journal

They contain high levels of highly desirable long chain fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The police said the prime suspect in the case was Llewellyn Starks, a former highly ranked long jumper who is employed by Nike.

The New York Times - Sports

"His work will complement our highly successful long form and documentary content which has been established over the last few years".

The New York Times

The mammalian MECP2 gene has a highly conserved long 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) which contains multiple binding sites for microRNAs (Coy et al., 1999; McGowan and Pang, 2015).

Protein & Cell

While there are many female graffiti artists, a more common art form in the projects of New York City is highly decorated, long, intricately designed nails.

Vice

After receiving her informed consent, I safely place the Nexplanon and she is able to return to college with a highly effective long term method of contraception.

Huffington Post

(E and F ) 356a clone was a highly regenerative long lived colony.

eLife

A 214-bp fragment from the highly conserved long internal repeat IR1 was amplified.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "highly long", opt for more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "very long" or "extremely long" to enhance clarity and credibility.

Common error

Overusing adverbs like "highly" can weaken your writing. With adjectives that already imply a high degree, such as "long", adding "highly" is often unnecessary and sounds awkward. Choose a more precise adjective or a different construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly long" functions as an attempt to intensify the adjective "long". However, Ludwig AI indicates that this combination is not considered standard English and is often redundant. Using stronger, more appropriate intensifiers is recommended.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "highly long" may appear in some sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and stylistically weak. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. More appropriate alternatives, such as "very long" or "extremely long", offer better clarity and are more widely accepted. When writing, prioritize precision and avoid redundant intensifiers to strengthen your message. Opting for these alternatives ensures your writing remains both grammatically sound and stylistically effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely long

Replaces "highly" with "extremely" to intensify the adjective.

very long

Uses "very" as a more common and acceptable intensifier.

considerably long

Emphasizes the length as being noteworthy.

remarkably long

Highlights the length as being exceptional or unusual.

exceptionally long

Indicates a length that is beyond the norm.

particularly long

Focuses on the specific length as a key characteristic.

appreciably long

Suggests the length is easily noticeable or measurable.

noticeably long

Emphasizes that the length is apparent.

unusually long

Indicates the length is atypical or unexpected.

substantially long

Conveys a sense of considerable length or duration.

FAQs

Is "highly long" grammatically correct?

The phrase "highly long" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. While "highly" can intensify some adjectives, it doesn't work well with "long". It's better to use alternatives like "very long" or "extremely long".

What can I say instead of "highly long"?

You can use alternatives like "very long", "extremely long", or "considerably long" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "highly long" or "very long"?

"Very long" is the correct and more commonly used phrase. "Highly long" is considered grammatically awkward.

When should I use "extremely long" instead of "very long"?

Use "extremely long" when you want to emphasize that something is significantly longer than usual. "Extremely" adds a stronger degree of intensity compared to "very long".