long struggling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long struggling" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to describe a prolonged period of difficulty or hardship, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "After a long struggling with his health, he finally found a treatment that worked."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Sebald's previous books, the masterpieces I have tried to suggest (there's no space here for the lovely early "Vertigo"), were published by New Directions, long struggling and long astonishing.

The New York Times - Books

But that did not stop the sparks from flying between Buenos Aires and Madrid this week as a Spanish holding company that controls Aerolíneas Argentinas threatened to ground the long struggling airline once and for all.

The New York Times

When Mart Crowley's "The Boys in the Band" opened Off Broadway, in 1968, it raised the curtain on certain aspects of gay male life, but it also showed that self-acceptance was still an illusion for gay people, who had spent too long struggling to breathe in the swamps of hatred and self-hatred.

The New Yorker

And, two days before Mr Swartz's premature death on January 11th, apparently by suicide in his New York apartment, it expanded a test programme to enable limited reading of about 4.5m articles to those who register for a free account.The prospect of prison may or may not have been what pushed the 26-year-old, long struggling with bouts of depression, over the edge.

The Economist

But it was only in the last couple of years that MSNBC, long struggling for an identity and lagging, established itself as a liberal alternative to Fox News Channel in prime time, finding improved ratings in the mistrust of the mainstream media that had grown among on the left during the Bush years and the Iraq war.

The New York Times

Due to long struggling, Gap announced to close 140 North American stores by early 2016 (Kapner 2015).

Fashion and Textiles

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Even long-struggling stores and sectors came back from the dead.

The New York Times

Long-struggling chains that had made strides in March took a step back in April.

The New York Times

Two long-struggling categories, department stores and clothing, continued to post declines.

The New York Times

Last week, two long-struggling chains, Montgomery Ward and Bradlees, both announced that they were closing.

The New York Times

Among Disney's building projects is a $1 billion overhaul of its long-struggling California Adventure theme park in Southern California.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a prolonged period of difficulty, consider more standard phrases like "prolonged struggle" or "protracted difficulty" for enhanced clarity.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "long struggling"; vary your descriptions with synonyms like "protracted", "sustained", or "enduring" to enrich your writing and prevent redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long struggling" functions primarily as a pre-modifying adjective preceding a noun, aiming to describe something enduring a prolonged period of hardship. While Ludwig identifies it as not correct, it is found used as adjective for words like "airline", "team", "store" or a person enduring a long period of hardship.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long struggling" aims to describe something or someone facing prolonged difficulties. Despite its appearance in various contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, Ludwig AI suggests it's not grammatically ideal. More established alternatives such as "prolonged struggle", "protracted difficulty", or "enduring challenge" offer enhanced clarity and grammatical precision. When crafting your narrative, consider these alternatives to effectively convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prolonged struggle

Emphasizes the extended duration of the difficulty, replacing the adjective with a noun.

protracted difficulty

Highlights the drawn-out nature of the challenge, using a more formal tone.

lengthy hardship

Focuses on the suffering endured over a considerable time, switching to a different noun.

enduring challenge

Highlights the sustained effort to overcome an obstacle, changing both the adjective and noun.

sustained adversity

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the unfavorable conditions, adopting a more formal register.

long-term battle

Suggests a continuous effort against something, often with a connotation of conflict.

extended period of difficulty

Replaces the phrase with a more descriptive and explicit explanation.

ongoing predicament

Highlights the current state of difficulty, using a different noun to describe the situation.

persistent tribulation

Emphasizes the continuing nature of the suffering, employing a more elevated vocabulary.

chronic problem

Focuses on the recurring and persistent nature of the issue, implying a long-lasting condition.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "long struggling"?

Alternatives include "prolonged struggle", "protracted difficulty", or "enduring challenge", each offering a nuanced way to describe sustained hardship.

Is "long struggling" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "long struggling" may not be the most grammatically sound phrase. Consider using alternatives that offer greater clarity and grammatical precision, such as "sustained adversity".

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

While it appears in some publications, aim for stronger alternatives like "lengthy hardship" or "long-term battle" to convey the intended meaning with greater impact.

What's the difference between "long struggling" and "prolonged struggle"?

"Long struggling" functions as a descriptive phrase, whereas "prolonged struggle" is a noun phrase. The latter is generally preferred for its grammatical correctness and clarity.