long time has elapsed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time has elapsed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since a particular event or moment. Example: "A long time has elapsed since we last met, and I hope we can catch up soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A long time has elapsed, Humphry!" An even longer time would elapse before the BBC finally showed any of the footage they filmed.

The Guardian

A long time has elapsed since Ukraine, with Poland, was awarded the football tournament in 2007: the intervening years have seen it not only build stadiums, but also lapse from a struggling but hopeful democracy into a darker place.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

When a long time had elapsed with no word, I rang my GP to find that the original doctor was long gone and no one had taken up my file, which had been lying in some disused in-tray with the result for weeks.

The Guardian

When recovering their caches, they tended to search for wax worms if only a short time had passed, but switched to the less-preferred peanuts if a long time had elapsed since caching.

Plosone

The incidence of cancer in young people with CBD is very low; however, CBD can become cancerous after a long period of time has elapsed.

Surgical Case Reports

Clinicians should be aware of this phenomenon, even if a long period of time has elapsed since the previous radiation therapy.

F1000Research

The really cunning ones delay complainants for so long that they can then declare that too much time has elapsed for them to be entitled to a resolution.

The Guardian - Money

Repeat these steps after the specified time has elapsed if your study requires long-term data.

WikiHow

Opponents of the vaccine say that not enough testing has been done and not enough time has elapsed to see if there are any possible long-term effects.

Huffington Post

However, it is in principle impossible to assess long-term effects of current techniques until many years in the future, when sufficient time has elapsed since their introduction.

British Journal of Cancer

So much time has elapsed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "long time has elapsed", consider the context and choose a more specific time frame if possible. For example, instead of "A long time has elapsed since the project started", specify "Five years have elapsed since the project started."

Common error

Ensure the verb tense is consistent when referring to the elapsed time. Avoid mixing past and present tenses, such as "A long time has elapsed, and now things are changing a lot". Instead, maintain consistency with "A long time had elapsed, and things changed significantly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time has elapsed" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the duration of time that has passed since a specific event. According to Ludwig, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time has elapsed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that a significant duration has passed since a particular event. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. While versatile, considering context and specific time references can improve precision. Alternatives like "considerable time has passed" offer varying levels of formality. Common usage includes news articles, scientific papers, and general informational content, emphasizing its broad applicability across diverse communication styles. Remember to maintain consistent verb tenses when discussing the period. As the examples from Ludwig illustrate, this phrase is suitable for describing various transformations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable time has passed

Replaces "long" with "considerable", emphasizing the extent of the time passed.

much time has gone by

Uses the verb "gone by" for a slightly more informal tone.

a significant period has passed

Replaces "time" with "period", adding a slightly more formal tone.

a good while has elapsed

Employs "a good while" to denote a substantial amount of time.

a lengthy duration has passed

Replaces "time" with "duration", emphasizing the extended nature of the period.

ages have passed

Uses "ages" to suggest a very long, indefinite amount of time.

a long period has transpired

Replaces "elapsed" with "transpired", giving a more formal feel.

a vast amount of time has gone by

Emphasizes the large quantity of time that has passed.

quite some time has elapsed

Uses "quite some time" to indicate a notable duration.

years have flown by

Uses the metaphorical "flown by" to express the quick passage of years.

FAQs

How can I use "long time has elapsed" in a sentence?

You can use "long time has elapsed" to indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since a particular event. For instance, "A "long time has elapsed" since we last spoke."

What's a more formal alternative to "long time has elapsed"?

A more formal alternative to "long time has elapsed" is "considerable time has passed", which adds a slightly more sophisticated tone.

Is it correct to say "long time has passed" instead of "long time has elapsed"?

Yes, "long time has passed" is a correct and commonly used alternative. It carries the same meaning as "long time has elapsed".

What does "long time has elapsed" imply?

"Long time has elapsed" implies that a notable duration has passed since a specific event or point in time, suggesting that circumstances or conditions may have changed.