long long

USAGE SUMMARY

"long long" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adverb to emphasize a description of something with a lot of time, space, or distance. For example, "We hiked for a long long time in the hot sun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Long, long distance.

The New Yorker

A long, long way.

The New York Times

A long, long corridor.

The New Yorker

A long, long year.

The New Yorker

A long, long while.

The New York Times

That's a long, long time.

The New York Times

Maybe a long, long time.

The New York Times

"Steam locomotives are long, long, long gone".

The New York Times

told me long long time ago.

The New York Times

It's a long, long spring training".

The New York Times

"We came a long, long way".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "long long" to emphasize the duration, distance, or extent of something, especially when a simple 'long' might not convey the desired level of extended time or space. For example, "It's been a "long long" time since we last met" emphasizes the prolonged separation.

Common error

Avoid using "long long" in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sound repetitive and less sophisticated than alternatives like "extended period" or "considerable time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long long" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the adjective 'long'. It emphasizes the duration, distance, or extent of whatever it modifies. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, demonstrating that it adds emphasis to descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "long long" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to emphasize duration, distance, or extent. As shown by Ludwig, it's especially common in news and media contexts. While effective for adding emphasis, be mindful of the context; it may be too informal for academic or professional writing, where alternatives like "extended period" might be more appropriate. The key takeaway is to use "long long" when you want to stress that something is significantly 'long' and to be mindful of maintaining an adequate level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very long

Emphasizes the length of time or distance, similar to the original phrase, but more common.

extremely long

Highlights the exceptional duration or extent, adding a degree of intensity.

a very long time

Adds the explicit reference to time, making it clearer the duration is being emphasized.

a considerable time

Implies a significant amount of time has passed or is required.

for a long duration

Formally specifies that the length refers to a period of time.

quite a while

An informal way to indicate a substantial period of time.

a good while

Similar to 'quite a while', suggesting a notable amount of time.

a lengthy period

Formally indicates an extended duration of time.

an extended period

Emphasizes the drawn-out nature of a time span.

a protracted duration

Indicates a duration that is prolonged, potentially excessively.

FAQs

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

You can use "long long" to emphasize the duration or distance of something. For instance, "It's a "long long" way to Tipperary" or "We waited a "long long" time for the bus".

What does repeating 'long' accomplish?

Repeating 'long' amplifies the sense of duration, distance, or extent. It serves to emphasize that something is not just long, but significantly so, creating a stronger impact than using 'long' alone.

Is "long long" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "long long" is often considered informal. In formal contexts, consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "extended period" or "considerable time".

What are some alternatives to "long long"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "very long", "extremely long", or "protracted" to convey a similar meaning.