lengthy said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lengthy said" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words, as "lengthy" is an adjective and does not fit with "said" in this context. An example of a correct usage might be: "The lengthy explanation he provided was difficult to follow."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Congress is well aware that current processing times are lengthy," said Robert Yalen, an assistant United States attorney.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"After the tragedy, it was very lengthy," he said, referring to the wait at the border.

The New York Times

The licensing process was a lengthy one, said a Nevada department of motor vehicles spokesman, David Sierro.

The Guardian - Tech

His death followed a lengthy illness, said Yadhira De Leon of the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles.

The New York Times

"It's at the beginning of a fairly lengthy process," said Jordan Barowitz, a spokesman for Council Speaker Peter F. Vallone.

The New York Times

"The cheaper thing to do is to use a tripod and hope your subject stays still long enough for a lengthy exposure," said Mr. Laforet.

The New York Times

"I do think that something can be negotiated that would avoid legal conflicts that could certainly prove costly and lengthy," he said.

The New York Times

"Food and wine make it more pleasurable, and help people to stay" during lengthy bidding, said Jamie Ritchie, head of the Sotheby's wine department.

The New York Times - Food

But the process of making the biological passport program solid enough to endure potential lawsuits by riders is lengthy, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"We're absolutely thrilled to accomplish this and keep him a part of our organization for a lengthy period," said Dave Dombrowski, the Tigers' president.

The New York Times - Sports

"Other than 50 Cent," he asked his merry band of studio buddies, "what's going on in hip-hop right now?" The lengthy silence said it all.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "lengthy said". Instead, rephrase to use a grammatically correct structure such as "he said it was lengthy" or "she described it as lengthy".

Common error

Ensure that adjectives like "lengthy" are correctly placed to modify nouns. Instead of "lengthy said", use a construction where "lengthy" modifies a noun, such as "a lengthy process" or "a lengthy discussion".

Linguistic Context

"Lengthy" is an adjective, and in correct usage it needs to modify a noun. The phrase "lengthy said" is not a standard or grammatically correct construction in English. Ludwig AI indicates that it is an incorrect combination of words.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lengthy said" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, "lengthy" is an adjective that requires a noun to modify, and this construction does not follow standard English grammar. Instead, rephrase using grammatically sound structures like "he said it was lengthy" or "he described it as lengthy". While the search results show instances of this phrase, almost all include some form of attribution of that word, but they don't form the incorrect "lengthy said" construction. Stick to correct grammar to ensure clear and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

said it was lengthy

Rephrases to include the verb "was" to explicitly state the subject's opinion regarding duration.

described it as lengthy

Changes the verb to "described", highlighting the characterization of something as lengthy.

mentioned it was lengthy

Uses "mentioned" to indicate a brief or passing reference to the length.

stated it was lengthy

Employs "stated" to emphasize a formal or official declaration regarding the length.

remarked that it was lengthy

Substitutes "remarked" to suggest a casual or offhand observation about the duration.

observed that it was lengthy

Replaces the verb with "observed", highlighting a careful or attentive noticing of the length.

noted that it was lengthy

Uses "noted" to indicate a formal acknowledgement or recording of the length.

commented that it was lengthy

Changes verb to "commented" emphasizing that the person made a remark about the duration.

explained it was lengthy

Uses "explained" to illustrate the reasons or details behind the lengthy duration.

indicated it was lengthy

Substitutes "indicated" to imply a less direct or explicit communication about the length.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "lengthy" in a sentence with attribution?

Instead of "lengthy said", use constructions like "He said it was a "lengthy process"" or "She described the discussion as lengthy".

What are some alternatives to "lengthy said" that maintain a similar meaning?

Consider using phrases like "said it was lengthy", "described it as lengthy", or "mentioned it was lengthy" depending on the context.

Is there a difference in formality between "said it was lengthy" and "stated it was lengthy"?

"Stated it was lengthy" often implies a more formal declaration, whereas "said it was lengthy" is more neutral. The best option depends on the register of your writing. You may want to avoid using "lengthy said".

How can I avoid making grammatical errors when using "lengthy"?

Ensure that "lengthy" correctly modifies a noun. For example, instead of "lengthy said", try "lengthy discussion, he said" or "he described the process as lengthy".