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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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long is needed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long is needed" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "A long time is needed to complete this project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

A concrete wall six metres high and 600 metres long is needed to prevent refugees and migrants from entering the Channel tunnel at Calais, according to Eurotunnel.

In mammals as a whole, the length of pregnancy is determined by how long is needed to produce a brain that is developed enough to allow the baby to survive on its own after birth.

News & Media

The Guardian

"The idea behind leaving your home is to get away from danger," Steve explains, "which means getting away from everybody and going under the radar, off-grid, so you can't be found – then just survive for however long is needed before you can come back to civilisation".

News & Media

The Guardian

27 In light of this, careful consideration of which women should receive prophylaxis during an antepartum admission and for how long is needed.

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Migrant workers have long been needed in the UK's manufacturing and food industry.

News & Media

Independent

A biography of Harriet Jacobs has long been needed to answer a number of questions.

The on-off initial public offering of the dam's shareholder vehicle, China Yangzi Power, has added yet more uncertainty.The reforms have long been needed.

News & Media

The Economist

The combined company should provide a united front against Microsoft, which has long been needed.

News & Media

Forbes

This kind of action has long been needed at both Chrysler and GM.

News & Media

Forbes

The letter welcomed Mr Gove's controversial plans to have topics taught in chronological order, saying it had "long been needed".

News & Media

BBC

Dixon said in a phone interview yesterday that Bitcoin adds an economic layer that has long been needed on the Internet.

News & Media

TechCrunch
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing required durations, clarify the subject and action to enhance understanding. For instance, instead of saying "long is needed", specify "a long time is needed to complete the analysis".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase without specifying what requires the duration; this often leads to ambiguity. Ensure to clarify the context by stating what needs to be "long" and for what purpose.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long is needed" typically functions as part of a larger statement expressing a requirement or necessity. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it is often incomplete and requires additional context to be grammatically sound. Its function depends on the surrounding words to convey a complete thought.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "long is needed" is grammatically questionable and benefits from additional context to enhance clarity. Ludwig AI confirms its incompleteness, recommending more explicit phrasing for formal communication. While it appears across various source types such as news, science, and business, its rarity suggests using clearer alternatives like "a long time is required" or "a prolonged duration is necessary". Always specify the subject needing the duration to prevent ambiguity and ensure effective communication.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "long is needed" to improve clarity?

To enhance clarity, specify what requires a long duration. For instance, use phrases like "a long time is needed", "a lengthy period is required", or "a prolonged duration is necessary" depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "long is needed" for describing time requirements?

You can use alternatives such as "duration is required", "time frame required", or "period needed" to express the need for a certain amount of time.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "long is needed"?

While technically incorrect, the phrase might be used in informal contexts. However, for professional or academic writing, it's better to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives.

What's the difference between "long is needed" and "a long time is needed"?

The phrase "a long time is needed" includes the subject, making it grammatically complete and more understandable. "Long is needed" lacks a clear subject, which can cause confusion.

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Source & Trust

83%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: