long relative

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long relative" is not a standard expression in written English and may cause confusion.
It could potentially be used in specific contexts, such as discussing a lengthy relative clause in grammar, but it is not commonly recognized. Example: "The sentence contained a long relative that made it difficult to follow."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Stop in the first of the three countries on this route you should hit its northwest corner which have a relatively long (relative length > 0.2) border along a line of longitude.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Positive values on the PC 2 (13% variance) mainly separate phalanges with a relatively large base, in both mediolateral and dorsopalmar diameters (i.e., with a relatively small shaft and apical tuft), from phalanges that are very long relative to other dimensions (see Figures 2 and 3 and Videos S1, S2, S3, S4, S5).

Plosone

The long, relative eclipse of de Kooning's art-world prestige, until the eighties, may have stemmed from that decision.

The New Yorker

The secret of the lost limbs was revealed by an examination of the inner ear of Dinilysia patagonica, a two-metre long relative of the modern snake.

Independent

Now the inflow of foreign direct investment may be reversing a long relative decline in the fortunes of the southern and eastern shores.

The Economist

"Whilst the business has many positives, its journey to scale and acceptable returns will take too long relative to other opportunities," Mr. Clarke said in a statement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

A crude indicator is how long relatives lasted.

Forbes

There is now plenty of evidence that Britain's century-long relative economic decline has been arrested and, indeed, that it is well-placed to improve its relative performance over the next few years.

The Economist

Irmis and three others from separate institutions excavated a complete skeleton of a yard-long relative of modern crocodiles — with park paleontologist William Parker, who found the first fossil fragments of the creature on a promising outcrop in a previously unscoured area of the park.

University of California, Berkeley

This high number made its tail the longest relative to body length of any theropod.

Wikipedia

A few individuals became a thriving colony, casting limbs into the water, fishing for plankton, enjoying the kind of serenity you can only achieve when you have no real brain and the world's longest relative penis size.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "long relative", ensure the context clearly defines what the length is being compared to. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "long relative" without specifying the reference point for comparison. For example, instead of saying "the incubation period is long relative", specify "the incubation period is "long relative to host life expectancy"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long relative" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating its length in comparison to another element. Ludwig examples show its use in scientific and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

23%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long relative" is an adjectival modifier used to describe something whose length is significant in comparison to something else. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is considered acceptable but not overly common, predominantly appearing in scientific and technical contexts. When using "long relative", ensure you clearly define what the length is being compared to for enhanced clarity. Remember to avoid vague comparisons by explicitly stating the reference point. Alternative phrases like "relatively long" or "long in comparison" can also convey similar meanings. Overall, "long relative" is a useful phrase for expressing proportional length differences in a precise manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively long

Reverses the order of the words, but maintains the core meaning concerning extent or duration.

long in comparison

Emphasizes the comparative aspect of the length being discussed.

extended in relation

Uses 'extended' for 'long' and 'in relation' for 'relative', maintaining the comparative sense.

of considerable length relative to

Adds emphasis on the length being significant in comparison.

having a long relationship

Shifts the focus to a relationship that persists for a significant duration.

lengthy in proportion

Replaces 'relative' with 'in proportion', focusing on comparative measurement.

protracted in comparison to

Uses 'protracted' to emphasize the duration and 'in comparison to' to highlight the relative aspect.

longitudinal relative to

Implies measurement along the long axis, relative to a reference point.

appreciably long relative to

Highlights that the length is noticeably significant in comparison.

a long period related to

Focuses on a prolonged timeframe in connection with something else.

FAQs

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

The phrase "long relative" is used to describe something that has a considerable length when compared to something else. For example, "The arm is "long relative to the leg", resulting in body proportions that differ dramatically from those of more-modern hominins."

What does "long relative" mean in scientific contexts?

In scientific contexts, "long relative" often denotes a measurement or duration that is significant when compared to a standard or another measurement. It emphasizes proportionality rather than absolute length. For instance, "The tubes are "long relative to the size of the cap"."

Which is a better phrase, "long relative" or "relatively long"?

Both "long relative" and "relatively long" can be used, but they have slightly different emphasis. "Relatively long" describes something that is long to a certain degree. On the other hand, "long relative" stresses the importance of the comparison point. For example, "The eclipse of de Kooning's art-world prestige was "long relative to past interventions"" emphasizes the historical comparison.

What's the difference between "long relative" and "longer than"?

"Long relative" implies a comparison where the length is proportional or scaled to another factor, while "longer than" directly states a greater length. "Long relative" is used when considering the relationship between two measurements rather than simply their absolute sizes. For example, "The thumb is "long relative to the length of the other digits"".