it wasn't long before

USAGE SUMMARY

'it wasn't long before' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that happened quickly or soon after something else. Example: I had just started my shift when it wasn't long before I found myself busy dealing with customer issues.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It wasn't long before famous faces discovered @BeBeautifulLA.

Huffington Post

It wasn't long before its wailing filled the sky".

The New York Times - Books

It wasn't long before Allon reported its first scientific successes.

Science Magazine

It wasn't long before the arrests began.

The New Yorker

It wasn't long before the whispering began.

The New Yorker

It wasn't long before it showed up.

The New York Times

It wasn't long before his demons surfaced.

The Guardian

It wasn't long before she left us.

The New Yorker

But it wasn't long before Violet's leg problems worsened.

The New York Times

Yet, it wasn't long before he was making runs.

The Economist

But it wasn't long before she dropped photography for film.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase, ensure it logically connects two events, making it clear which action preceded the other.

Common error

Avoid using "it wasn't long before" when a significant amount of time actually passed. The phrase implies a short duration between events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it wasn't long before" functions as a temporal connector, linking two events in time. It introduces the second event and indicates that it occurred shortly after the first, implying a quick succession.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it wasn't long before" is a commonly used temporal connector that indicates an event occurred shortly after another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across various sources, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to use it accurately to reflect a short time interval between events. Rephrasing options, such as "shortly afterward" or "almost immediately", can offer alternative ways to express the same idea with slight nuances. Therefore, being precise with the timeframe and aware of its implied meaning is a key consideration in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't much later when

Rephrases the original by focusing on the lack of delay until the next event.

soon after that

A more direct and less figurative way of expressing that something occurred quickly following a previous event.

shortly afterward

Emphasizes the brief duration between two events. Does not imply anticipation as much as "it wasn't long before".

almost immediately

Emphasizes the near-instantaneous nature of the subsequent event.

in short order

Highlights the efficiency and speed with which something happened. Less common in everyday conversation.

before much time had passed

A more verbose alternative that underscores the limited duration of time that elapsed.

it happened quickly

A simpler construction focusing on the speed of the event rather than the time elapsed since the previous one.

it promptly followed

A formal and concise way of stating that an event quickly succeeded another.

the sequel occurred rapidly

Emphasizes the swift succession of events.

presently

Indicates something will happen soon or directly after something else.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "it wasn't long before" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "shortly thereafter", "in short order", or "almost immediately", depending on the specific context.

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "it wasn't long before" and "it was not long before"?

No, "it wasn't long before" and "it was not long before" are essentially interchangeable and carry the same meaning. Both phrases indicate that something happened relatively soon after a previous event.

Can "it wasn't long before" be used to describe events in the past, present, or future?

The phrase "it wasn't long before" is typically used to describe events in the past. While it could theoretically be used in a future context, it's less common and might sound awkward. For future scenarios, phrases like "it won't be long before" are more appropriate.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "it wasn't long before"?

A common mistake is using "it wasn't long before" when the time between events was actually quite significant. Also, ensure the sentence clearly establishes what event the 'not long' timeframe is relative to.