long time spoke

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time spoke" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "It has been a long time since we spoke last."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For a long time, no one spoke.

The New Yorker

The 102-year-old spoke for a long time, uninterrupted.

Vice

He [Sarkozy] was a friend of mine for a long time … It can't be easy to be president, even when he tried to do things, there was always a spoke in the wheel, whether from opposite parties or elsewhere.

The Guardian - Music

"Long time".

The New Yorker

Maybe a long, long time.

The New York Times

"Long time in hospital".

Independent

"Long time," he said.

The New York Times

A long time there".

The New Yorker

"Long time no see".

The New York Times

"Not a long time.

The New York Times

It's long time".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to past conversations, use grammatically correct phrases like "it has been a long time since we spoke" or "we haven't spoken in ages" instead of "long time spoke".

Common error

Ensure that the verb follows standard English grammar rules. Instead of stringing words together, construct proper sentences. For example, prefer "long time since we spoke" over the incorrect "long time spoke".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time spoke" does not function as a standard grammatical unit in English. It lacks a clear subject-verb agreement and does not convey a complete thought. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "long time spoke" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both formal and informal contexts. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase does not adhere to standard English rules. Instead, use phrases like "it has been a long time since we spoke" or "we haven't spoken in ages" to correctly express the intended meaning. Remember to prioritize grammatical accuracy for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has been a while since we talked

Emphasizes the duration since the last conversation, using a more common and grammatically correct structure.

we haven't spoken in ages

Expresses a long period of silence between speakers, using idiomatic language to highlight the extensive time.

it's been a long time since we had a conversation

Highlights the extended duration since the last interaction and frames it as a conversation.

we last talked a long time ago

Focuses on the past event of talking, specifying that it happened a significant time ago.

it's been ages since our last chat

Uses the word "chat" to denote a casual conversation and emphasizes the long duration using "ages".

a considerable time has passed since we communicated

Uses more formal language to describe the interval since communication, highlighting the significant passage of time.

we haven't communicated for a long duration

Emphasizes the lack of communication over an extended period.

our last discussion was a long time ago

Highlights a past discussion, noting that it occurred a considerable time in the past.

much time has elapsed since we spoke

Emphasizes the passage of time since the last instance of speaking.

a significant period has gone by since we last talked

Focuses on the significant period that has passed since the last conversation.

FAQs

How can I correctly express that it has been a long time since someone spoke?

Use phrases such as "It has been a long time since they "spoke"" or "They haven't spoken in a long time" for grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternative ways to say that people have not communicated for a while?

Consider using alternatives like "It's been ages since we last "talked"", "We haven't communicated in a long time", or "A considerable time has passed since we "communicated"".

What is wrong with the phrase "long time spoke"?

The phrase "long time "spoke"" is grammatically incorrect. It does not follow standard English sentence structure, which requires a subject and a properly conjugated verb.

Is "long time spoke" ever appropriate in formal writing?

No, "long time "spoke"" is not appropriate in formal or any standard English writing due to its grammatical inaccuracy. Always use grammatically correct alternatives.