long games

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long games" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to games that have a lengthy duration or to describe strategies that require patience and long-term planning. Example: "In chess, players often engage in long games that test their endurance and strategic thinking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"Long games.

The New York Times - Sports

In 2013, I lost in the semis of the Milt Russ in five long games.

The New Yorker

All year the Mets have endured punishing travel itineraries, strange weather patterns and gruelingly long games.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's good when you have long games this, you want to win.

The New York Times - Sports

Don't rush into strenuous, long games if your body is not used to it.

The Guardian - Money

The two men played long games of chess and talked about England.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

What's the long game?

The New York Times

Tiger's long game?

The New York Times - Sports

He's committed to the long game.

Independent

Maybe it will play the long game.

The New York Times

ReprintsCongress had been playing a long game.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing sports or competitions, use "long games" to convey that matches or individual games within a series are unusually extended in duration. For example, "The tournament was grueling, with several long games testing the players' endurance."

Common error

Avoid using "long games" when you actually mean complex or intricate games. A game can be short but highly complex; "long games" specifically refers to the duration, not the difficulty or strategic depth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long games" functions as a noun phrase, where "long" modifies the noun "games". It describes games characterized by their extended duration. Ludwig confirms that this is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long games" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe games that extend over a considerable duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and usable. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to categorize and inform about the length of specific games, particularly in sports like baseball, tennis, and chess. While alternatives like "lengthy games" or "protracted games" exist, it's crucial to use "long games" to specifically indicate duration rather than complexity. Remember to focus on the duration of the game, not the complexity, when using the phrase "long games".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lengthy games

Replaces 'long' with 'lengthy', emphasizing the extended duration.

protracted games

Uses 'protracted' to highlight the extended nature of the games.

extended games

Substitutes 'long' with 'extended', focusing on the increased duration.

drawn-out games

Emphasizes the dragging or prolonged aspect of the games.

time-consuming games

Highlights the significant time investment required by the games.

marathon games

Implies the games are enduring and require considerable stamina.

enduring games

Focuses on the lasting and persistent quality of the games.

games of considerable length

A more formal way to express the extended duration of the games.

games with extended playtime

Highlights the increased time spent playing the games.

games that take a long time

A more descriptive way to indicate the games' lengthy duration.

FAQs

How can I use "long games" in a sentence?

You can use "long games" to describe matches or competitions that have an extended duration, such as "The baseball team is known for playing "long games" due to their strategic play and frequent extra innings."

What are some alternatives to "long games"?

Alternatives include "lengthy games", "extended games", or "protracted games", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "games are long" instead of "long games"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but "long games" functions as a noun phrase, while "games are long" is a sentence. The choice depends on the sentence structure and emphasis you prefer.

What sports are commonly associated with "long games"?

Sports like baseball, tennis, and chess are often associated with "long games" due to the potential for matches to extend over several hours based on various factors like extra innings, tiebreakers, or strategic play.