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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

it's been too long
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's been too long since Navy beat Army," said Sowell, who entered Saturday's contest with an 0-3 record in the series.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

It's been too long.

News & Media

The New York Times

"It's been too long," she said.

News & Media

The New York Times

Isserley, it's been too long.

News & Media

The Guardian - Books

It's been too long of a road".

News & Media

The New York Times

Juliet Harvey It's been too long!

News & Media

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's been too long, of course.

News & Media

The New York Times - Magazine

For these people, it's been too long".

News & Media

The Guardian

What if it's been too long?

News & Media

The New Yorker

It's been too long" responses, disappointment always followed.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"We need to play, it's been too long".

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's been too long" when you want to express that a significant amount of time has passed since a previous event or interaction. Ensure the context makes it clear what event you are referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "it's been too long" when you mean something is taking too long in the present moment. Instead, use "this is taking too long" or "it's taking longer than expected".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's been too long" functions as an expression of duration, indicating that a significant amount of time has passed since a previous event or interaction. Ludwig examples show its widespread use in expressing a sense of longing or regret for the time elapsed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

Formal & Business

News & Media

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it's been too long" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express that a considerable amount of time has passed since a specific event or interaction. Ludwig's examples show that the phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts and serves to convey feelings of nostalgia, regret, or anticipation. While it can be used in various registers, it's generally neutral. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding the event to which you're referring, and avoid confusing it with expressions about ongoing delays.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been a while

This alternative uses 'a while' to express an unspecified but significant amount of time.

it's been ages

This phrase uses 'ages' to exaggerate the length of time, implying a longer duration.

it's been quite some time

This option is slightly more formal and emphasizes the duration of the interval.

it's been a long time coming

This suggests that something has been anticipated or delayed for an extended period.

we haven't seen each other in ages

This alternative is specific to seeing someone and uses 'ages' for emphasis.

it feels like forever

This option uses hyperbole to express a subjective feeling of a very long time.

it's overdue

This implies that something should have happened sooner and is now late.

it's high time

This indicates that something is urgently needed or should have been done already.

long time no see

An idiomatic expression specifically used when meeting someone after a long separation.

it's been an eternity

This uses 'eternity' for extreme emphasis on the duration of time.

FAQs

What does "it's been too long" mean?

The phrase "it's been too long" expresses that a considerable amount of time has passed since a particular event or interaction, often implying a sense of longing or regret.

What can I say instead of "it's been too long"?

You can use alternatives like "it has been a while", "it's been ages", or "long time no see" depending on the specific context.

Is "it's been too long" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it's been too long" is grammatically correct. It uses the contraction "it's" (it is), the auxiliary verb "been", and the adverb "too" to modify the adjective "long".

How can I use "it's been too long" in a sentence?

You can use "it's been too long" to express that a desired event hasn't happened in a while, such as "It's been too long since we last went on vacation", or to greet someone you haven't seen in a while.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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it's been too longGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

it's been too long
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples