long overdue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long overdue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that should have happened a long time ago but has not yet happened. For example, "The relocation plan is long overdue; it should have been implemented months ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reform was long overdue.

Independent

"Reform is long overdue".

The New York Times

He was long overdue.

The New York Times - Sports

That is long overdue.

The New York Times

This was long overdue.

Independent

"It's long overdue.

The New York Times

All are long overdue.

The New York Times

I believe it's long overdue.

The New York Times

The change is long overdue.

The New York Times

This idea is long overdue.

The New York Times

New standards are long overdue.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "long overdue" with specific actions or events. For example, "The infrastructure repairs are long overdue" is more effective than simply stating "Something is long overdue".

Common error

While "long overdue" is a useful phrase, overuse can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "delayed", "deferred", or "past due" to maintain a fresh and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long overdue" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something should have happened much earlier. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "long overdue" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adjective phrase that indicates something should have occurred earlier, as stated by Ludwig AI. Its neutral tone makes it appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, business, and scientific communications. While its frequency is high, avoid overuse by considering semantically similar alternatives like "long delayed" or "much delayed" to maintain writing freshness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long delayed

Emphasizes the delay itself, rather than the expectation of timeliness.

much delayed

Similar to "long delayed" but with a stronger emphasis on the extent of the delay.

way past due

Emphasizes the degree to which something is late.

long deferred

Suggests a postponement or intentional delay.

past due for a long time

Emphasizes that the thing should have happened a while ago.

should have been done long ago

Focuses on the inaction or failure to complete something in the past.

overdue for ages

An informal way to express that something is very late.

needed to happen ages ago

An informal way to express that something should have happened a while ago.

delayed for a significant period

Highlights that the period of delay is quite important.

chronically late

Highlights a recurring pattern of lateness or delay.

FAQs

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

Use "long overdue" to describe something that should have happened a while ago but hasn't. For example, "The company's response to the scandal is "long overdue"."

What's a less formal way to say "long overdue"?

Informal alternatives include phrases like "way past due", "needed to happen ages ago", or "overdue for ages".

Which is correct, "long overdue" or "longly overdue"?

"Long overdue" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "Longly overdue" is not standard English.

What can I say instead of "long overdue"?

You can use alternatives like "long delayed", "long deferred", or "much delayed depending on the context".