long since gone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long since gone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been absent or no longer exists for a considerable amount of time. Example: "The old factory has been long since gone, replaced by a modern shopping center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

SILICON VALLEY has long since gone Hollywood.

The New York Times

The bees are long since gone.

The New York Times

The artisans have long since gone.

The Guardian - Travel

"But the mill and the bridge have long since gone.

The New York Times

Shorts with pockets in have long since gone.

The Guardian - Sport

Good old investigative journalism is long since gone.

The Guardian - Travel

Physical or forensic evidence is clearly long since gone.

The Guardian - Opinion

America has long since gone off the boil.

The New York Times - Books

Nagasaki's garment and assembly shops have long since gone to China.

The Economist

He was long since gone, his burial something of an afterthought, but our grief was real.

The New Yorker

The rest of the boxes have long since gone off to wherever trash goes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "long since gone" to emphasize that something disappeared or ceased to exist a considerable time ago, adding a sense of finality or irreversibility.

Common error

Avoid using "long since gone" when simply stating something is no longer present without implying a significant passage of time; less emphatic alternatives might be more appropriate in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long since gone" functions as an adverbial modifier emphasizing the duration and completeness of something's absence or disappearance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatically correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "long since gone" is a versatile phrase used to emphatically express that something has been absent or has ceased to exist for a considerable amount of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse sources, ranging from news articles and academic papers. It is suitable for neutral and formal contexts. Use "long since gone" when you want to emphasize the duration and completeness of something's disappearance. The related phrases and guidance provided offer further insight into its usage and potential alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long since disappeared

Close synonym, highlighting the act of disappearing over a long period.

long ago vanished

Emphasizes the disappearance of something in the distant past.

vanished a long time ago

Similar to "long ago vanished", but with a different word order.

gone for a long time

A more straightforward way of expressing the absence of something.

become a thing of the past

Indicates that something is outdated or no longer relevant.

no longer in existence

A formal way to state that something does not exist anymore.

receded into the past

Implies that something has faded away over time.

passed into oblivion

Suggests something has been completely forgotten and ceased to exist.

been consigned to history

Suggests something has been officially relegated to the past.

faded from memory

Focuses on the loss of something from people's recollection.

FAQs

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

Use "long since gone" to indicate that something disappeared or ceased to exist a considerable time ago. For example, "The original building is "long since gone", replaced by a modern structure."

What are some alternatives to "long since gone"?

Alternatives include "long ago vanished", "vanished a long time ago", or "long since disappeared", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "long time gone" instead of "long since gone"?

While "long time gone" is understandable, it lacks the emphasis and somewhat formal tone of "long since gone". The latter specifically indicates a state of being gone for a considerable duration.

What's the difference between "long since gone" and "gone for a long time"?

"Long since gone" emphasizes that the disappearance or cessation occurred definitively in the past and is now complete. "Gone for a long time" simply notes a prolonged absence without necessarily implying finality.