long time has been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time has been" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a sense of duration but needs rephrasing for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Example: "It has been a long time since we last met."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

I think that fashion, for a long time, has been in a prison.

The New York Times

"A well-equipped machine shop for a long time has been able to make gun parts," Mr. Gershenfeld said.

The New York Times - Science

New Orleans is, and for a long time has been, the opposite of a city that works.

The New Yorker

"But the biggest concern for a long time has been that drinking coffee is a risky thing to do.

The New York Times

Haye's philosophy for a long time has been, if you shout long and loud, you will get what you want.

The Guardian - Sport

He writes, A very weird thing for me for a long time has been urban dwellers who fundamentally reject the actual virtues of urban life.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

It comes from crime prevention budgets, which for a long time have been eaten up by CCTV initiatives.

Independent

The company for a long time had been interested in trying to get involved in submarine cable systems.

The Guardian

The tribal peoples for a long time have been undergoing the process of Hinduization, and many tribal chieftains also have claimed Kshatriya status.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For a long time having been victims of misleading illusions and promises from the authorities, the citizens have become increasingly impatient and agitated about the crisis of water.

Applied Water Science

"I must say that players who for a long time had been rock solid had off days and I probably picked the wrong team.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating that something has existed or occurred for a significant duration, consider restructuring your sentence to use phrases like "for a long time" followed by a verb in the perfect tense (e.g., "for a long time, it has been known") or use alternatives like "for a considerable time".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "long time has been" directly, as it often leads to grammatically awkward sentences. Rephrase to ensure clarity and correctness. For example, instead of "the problem for a long time has been unsolved", try "the problem has remained unsolved for a long time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase, as structured, doesn't serve a distinct grammatical function due to its awkward construction. The primary issue is the disconnected nature of the words, leading to a lack of clear grammatical role within a sentence. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the phrase isn't standard in written English and requires rephrasing for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

35%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time has been" is a grammatically questionable construct that aims to convey a sense of duration, but is often used incorrectly. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase requires rephrasing for standard written English. While it appears in various sources, including news and scientific articles, its use can lead to awkward and unclear sentences. To improve clarity and grammatical correctness, consider using alternatives such as "for a considerable time", "for an extended period", or restructuring the sentence entirely. By opting for these alternatives, you ensure your writing is both accurate and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for a considerable time

Replaces "long time" with "considerable time", emphasizing the length of the period.

for an extended period

Similar to "for a considerable time", but uses "extended period" to describe the duration.

for many years

Specifies the "long time" as a duration of multiple years.

for quite some time

Uses "quite some time" which is an idiomatic way of saying a "long time".

it has been a long time

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the passing of time.

it's been a while

An informal way of saying a "long time has passed".

a long period has elapsed

Uses more formal language to indicate the passing of a significant duration.

much time has gone by

Focuses on the time that has passed, rather than a state existing for a long time.

it has been ages

An exaggerated, informal way to express a long duration.

a significant duration has passed

Emphasizes the significance and length of the time period.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "long time has been" to improve grammatical correctness?

To improve grammatical correctness, you can rephrase "long time has been" using alternatives like "for a considerable time", "for an extended period", or "it has been a long time".

Is "long time has been" grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "long time has been" is generally not considered grammatically correct in formal writing. It is better to use more structured phrases such as "for a considerable time" or restructuring the sentence to use a perfect tense.

What is a more concise way to express "long time has been"?

A concise way to express the idea is to use phrases like "it's been a while", although this is more informal.

How does the context affect the best alternative to "long time has been"?

The context determines the most suitable alternative. For formal contexts, "for a considerable time" or "for an extended period" are appropriate. For informal contexts, phrases like "it's been a while" may be more suitable.