inordinately long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'inordinately long' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is far longer than it should be, such as a wait time, a book, or a meeting. For example, "The meeting lasted an inordinately long time, and I was very tired afterwards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Mr. Harmon makes some rookie mistakes: characters disappear into the bathroom for inordinately long stretches, allowing the others to dissect their flaws with abandon.

The New York Times

which diffuse slowly and therefore cause inordinately long detection times.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Others take an inordinately long time to discover what it takes to become truly effective.

Harvard Business Review

It takes an inordinately long time for the water to get hot when our bathroom faucet is turned on.

The New York Times

Many were said to have spent an "inordinately long time" in curtained-off booths before deciding which candidate to back.

The Guardian

It is somewhat marred by the clumsy rendition of the posture of one of the two women whose left leg seems inordinately long.

The New York Times - Arts

Higuaín, having taken inordinately long to convince Argentina's coach Diego Maradona to give him the chance, had two people to thank.

The New York Times - Sports

His virtual studies suggest that it would take inordinately long for natural selection to achieve this, and thus that there must be something wrong with the very idea.

The Guardian - Books

It takes Sally, who is not supposed to be especially stupid, an inordinately long time to figure out that Johnny is an odd character.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The glycylation of tubulin subunits along the inordinately long Drosophila sperm axonemes [64]suggests a particularly large requirement for glycine.

Plosone

I am going to note a few of the key features, pros and cons here but feel free to watch my inordinately long video review below, to hear how AmpKit sounds.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inordinately long", ensure the context clearly establishes what the expected or normal length should be, to highlight the excessive nature of the duration or dimension.

Common error

Avoid using "inordinately long" when the standard or expected length is unclear or unstated. Without a clear reference point, the phrase loses its impact and can become meaningless.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "inordinately long" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the adjective "long". It describes something exceeding normal or reasonable limits in duration or length. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "inordinately long" effectively conveys that something is excessively extended in length or duration. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use in various contexts, primarily within news, scientific, and academic domains. It's essential to use this phrase when you want to emphasize that something is not just long, but longer than what is considered normal or acceptable. However, to maximize the effect of this expression, make sure that the standard duration is clear and that the excess can be felt from the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively long

Replaces "inordinately" with "excessively", maintaining the core meaning of something beyond the expected or reasonable length.

unduly long

Substitutes "inordinately" with "unduly", suggesting the length is inappropriate or unwarranted.

unreasonably long

Emphasizes the lack of justification for the length, using "unreasonably" instead of "inordinately".

disproportionately long

Highlights the imbalance or lack of proportion in the length, replacing "inordinately" with "disproportionately".

overly extended

Focuses on the action of extending beyond a normal limit, replacing "inordinately long" with a verb phrase.

protracted

A single word that conveys the sense of being drawn out or lengthened, offering a more concise alternative.

unnecessarily lengthy

Combines the concepts of being unneeded and long, offering a more descriptive alternative to "inordinately long".

excessive in length

Rephrases the phrase to focus on the excessiveness of the length itself.

unwarrantedly extended

Highlights that the extension is not justified or deserved, offering a stronger critique of the length.

immoderately long

Replaces "inordinately" with "immoderately", suggesting a lack of restraint or moderation in the length.

FAQs

How can I use "inordinately long" in a sentence?

You can use "inordinately long" to describe something that takes much longer than expected. For instance, "The meeting took an "inordinately long" time, delaying other projects".

What can I say instead of "inordinately long"?

Alternatives include "excessively long", "unduly long", or "unreasonably long" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it redundant to say "inordinately long time"?

While "inordinately" implies excessive duration, specifying "time" can provide clarity, especially if "inordinately" could potentially modify another attribute. It depends on the sentence's construction and context.

What is the difference between "inordinately long" and "unusually long"?

"Inordinately long" suggests a greater degree of excessiveness than "unusually long". "Inordinately" implies a disruption or problem caused by the length, while "unusually" simply notes a deviation from the norm.