kind of lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of lengthy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat long or takes a considerable amount of time or space, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The report was kind of lengthy, so I had to take breaks while reading it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Barton was not interested in the kind of lengthy legal wrangle which could have ensued.

The Guardian - Sport

Moore told me recently, "I remember being on tour in the nineties, when we started releasing more kind of lengthy, experimental stuff on our own label, and Malkmus" — the Pavement songwriter Stephen Malkmus — "was driving us somewhere.

The New Yorker

The message quickly got back to the Pentagon that Mr. Obama had no interest in repeating the kind of lengthy interventions that have consumed more than $3 trillion since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The New York Times

We think this kind of lengthy takeoff is relatively new, but even in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the economy offered fewer career choices, there were college graduates who roamed through their third decade of life.

The New York Times

One source stated that the FBI waited until Hutchins was on US soil before attempting to make an arrest – precisely to avoid the kind of lengthy extradition battle in which Love is embroiled.

The Guardian

Indeed, in a political world of conspiracy theories, there is little room for the kind of lengthy, structured dialogue, deliberation and building of compromises that representative liberal democracy – at its core – is made up of.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Mr. Bourne's work remains extremely popular, particularly in Britain, where his company, New Adventures, has the kinds of lengthy runs and huge audiences more associated with Broadway than ballet.

The New York Times - Arts

Missing, too, from the rostrum will be the usual parade of elected officials introducing other elected officials for the kinds of lengthy speeches that act as television-audience repellent.

The New York Times

It was here that in 1933-34 Eckert designed a mechanism to automate certain kinds of lengthy computations, allowing them -- at least in principal -- to run to completion unattended, without the normal manual steps to move decks of cards back and forth between calculator, tabulator, sorter, etc.

Columbia University

Nor could their hurt be equated with the kind of traumatic lengthy bullying suffered in harassment or discrimination cases.

The Guardian

In Missouri alone, engineers calculate that almost 500 miles of highways, including some sections of Interstate, have been seriously hit by the kind of deep, lengthy inundation that undermines and weakens a roadbed, leaving pavement subject to buckling and cracking when the first big truck passes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of lengthy" to soften a potentially negative observation about something being too long. It adds a touch of informality and can be less critical than simply stating it's "lengthy".

Common error

Avoid using "kind of lengthy" in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "moderately extensive" or "relatively prolonged" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of lengthy" functions as an adjectival modifier, softening the impact of the adjective "lengthy". It indicates an approximate or moderate degree of length. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Books

10%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kind of lengthy" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates something is somewhat long. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. While not overly formal, it's acceptable in many contexts for softening a potentially negative observation. Alternatives such as "somewhat extended" or "relatively long" can be used for more formal situations. When deciding if you want to use the phrase "kind of lengthy", consider alternatives like "a bit long" or "moderately extensive" to make sure the message is delivered according to your writing purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

kind of long

A simplified and even more informal version of the original phrase.

a touch lengthy

Suggests a slight degree of lengthiness, often used to soften the criticism.

a bit long

A more casual and straightforward way of saying something is somewhat lengthy.

somewhat extended

Emphasizes the extension in size or duration, focusing on the dimensional aspect.

relatively long

Implies a comparison to a standard or expectation of length.

rather prolonged

Highlights the duration aspect, suggesting that something took more time than expected.

marginally extended

Emphasizes the slight degree to which something is longer than usual.

slightly protracted

Focuses on the sense of something being drawn out, possibly unnecessarily.

moderately extensive

Indicates that something covers a considerable area or includes many details.

somewhat verbose

Specifically refers to something being excessively wordy or lengthy in terms of writing or speech.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of lengthy" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of lengthy" to describe something that is somewhat long or takes a considerable amount of time or space. For example, "The meeting was "kind of lengthy", so I took notes to stay focused".

What's a more formal alternative to "kind of lengthy"?

For formal writing, consider alternatives such as "moderately extensive", "relatively long", or "somewhat extended". These options provide a more professional tone while conveying a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "kind of lengthy" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "kind of lengthy" might be too informal for academic writing. It's generally better to use more precise and formal language, such as "rather prolonged" or "slightly protracted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "kind of lengthy" and "lengthy"?

"Kind of lengthy" suggests a moderate degree of length, implying that something is somewhat long but not excessively so. "Lengthy" on its own simply means long or extended. The inclusion of "kind of" softens the statement and introduces a degree of informality.