long being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long being" is not correct in written English.
To use "long being" in a sentence, you would need to rearrange the words to \"being long.\" For example, you could say, "Since being long overdue, the project was completed on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After so long being derided, is this disco's revenge?

The Guardian - Music

After long being regarded as the star of East Africa, Kenya is now broke and broken.

The New York Times

I didn't survive this long in the Mafia — "this long" being about two hours — without learning that.

The New York Times - Arts

I hate talking on the phone, being in one place too long, being in one city too long.

The Guardian - Music

Grime is the most forward-thinking genre to come out of the UK since punk, but spent so long being virtually ignored by the mainstream media.

Independent

Patrons take a number to take a turn, with five different short plays — none more than 10 minutes long — being performed in random rotation by five performers.

The New York Times

After long being a case study in jobless growth (except in the bloated public sector), Sweden has become a big creator of private-sector jobs.

The Economist

He argues that excessive use of whole-class teaching might mean pupils spending so long being lectured about mathematics that they never get to solve equations for themselves.

The Economist

But after long being trapped in the Tiger Woods era, Els has now managed to carve out a fittingly significant role for himself in golf history.

The New York Times - Sports

The four-piece, who met at Leeds University in 2007, looked stunned as they collected the award - despite long being the bookmakers' favourites.

The Guardian - Music

After long being accused of slighting mothers, a feminism that gave high priority to their interests could open up new political possibilities.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe something that existed for an extended duration, consider rephrasing with options like "having been a long time" or "after a long period" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "long being" directly. This phrase often appears due to incorrect word order. Reframe your sentence to use "being long" if you intend to use the words "being" and "long" together in that order, but be aware that other rewording may be much better.

Linguistic Context

While grammatically questionable, "long being" seems to function as part of a verb phrase or adjective phrase, attempting to describe a state or action that has existed for a considerable duration. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is not considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "long being" appears in a variety of sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended purpose is to express the duration of something, but it's advisable to use more standard alternatives such as "having been a long time" or "after a long period". These alternatives provide better clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in formal contexts. Despite its common occurrence, opting for grammatically sound alternatives will enhance the precision and credibility of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being a long time

This alternative focuses on the duration implied by "long" and emphasizes the passage of time.

having been long

This variant uses the past participle to indicate a state that existed for an extended period.

after a long period

This phrase emphasizes the completion of a long duration before something else occurs.

for an extended duration

This expresses the length of time in a more formal and descriptive way.

being protracted

This alternative uses "protracted" to emphasize the prolonged nature of something.

after much time had passed

This phrase highlights the significant amount of time that has elapsed.

once a lengthy period concluded

This emphasizes the termination of an extended timeframe.

being of considerable duration

This alternative uses "considerable duration" to highlight the substantial length of time.

after a significant lapse of time

This expresses the idea of a substantial interval having passed.

following a long interval

This emphasizes the sequence of events separated by a lengthy break.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "long being"?

Consider alternatives such as "being a long time", "having been long", or "after a long period" depending on the intended meaning.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "long being"?

While not grammatically correct, the phrase "long being" appears in various contexts, including news articles, scientific papers, and general web content. It's advisable to use more standard alternatives for clear communication.

Is "long being" ever considered correct in English grammar?

No, "long being" is generally not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Rephrasing is recommended to ensure accuracy and clarity.

How can I avoid using "long being" in my writing?

Focus on restructuring your sentences to use phrases like "after a long time", "having been long", or other similar constructions to convey the intended meaning more effectively.