long wanted for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long wanted for" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey a desire or need that has persisted over time, but it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "He has been long wanted for his contributions to the community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Senator Grassley may be using Mr. Srinivasan's nomination as an excuse to demand documents he's long wanted for his own purposes.

The New York Times

B6 THE FATE OF ABU ABBAS -- The White House explored ways of bringing charges against Abu Abbas, an elusive Palestinian terrorist captured in Iraq long wanted for the 1985 hijacking of the Achille Lauro cruise ship.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Some proponents of this procedure, known as cryopreservation, have long wanted brains preserved for uploading to a computer.

The New York Times

A rapid-fire talker whose father started a newspaper and a tiremaking business, Lim had long wanted to work for himself.

Forbes

Ariza has long wanted to test Pacquiao for scientific purposes, for lung capacity, red blood cells, endurance.

The New York Times - Sports

Many in the SNP have for long wanted to keep this prospectus suitably vague, for fear of offending any of their "big tent".

The Guardian

He had long wanted to go there for a weekend but had never made it.

The New Yorker

The V&A had long wanted to acquire one for its collection, but was deterred by the profusion of fake "Kirknesses".

The New York Times - Arts

The owner has long wanted a new home for the club and has plans in place to build the Karalis Arena.

BBC

Ballen told me that he's known the band members Ninja and Yo-Landi for years, and that he's long wanted to make a video for them.

The New Yorker

Chambers said he had long wanted to create something big for Halloween or Christmas in his driveway.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to express that someone or something is wanted for a particular reason and the desire has existed for a significant period, use more grammatically sound alternatives like "sought after for" or "desired for a long time".

Common error

Avoid using "for" directly after "wanted" when describing the reason or purpose. The preposition "for" typically introduces a duration of time or the recipient of an action. Use correct formulations with other prepositions or rephrase using alternatives such as "sought after for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long wanted for" attempts to function as an adjectival modifier, describing someone or something that has been desired for an extended period. However, the phrase's grammatical awkwardness hinders its effectiveness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "long wanted for" is grammatically questionable and less preferable in standard English. As indicated by Ludwig AI, its structure is not considered correct. While it can be found mainly in News & Media contexts, it's better to use alternatives like "sought after for" or "desired for a long time". Prioritize clarity and accuracy by opting for these more established alternatives in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought after for

Emphasizes the act of actively searching for someone or something, focusing on the pursuit.

desired for a long time

Highlights the duration of the desire, placing emphasis on the length of time.

long been seeking

Focuses on the continuous action of seeking over an extended period.

yearned for

Conveys a strong, emotional longing for something or someone.

longed for

Similar to 'yearned for', but may imply a more wistful or nostalgic desire.

in demand for

Indicates that something or someone is highly requested or needed.

eagerly awaited for

Implies anticipation and excitement for something that is expected.

searching for a long time

Focuses on the action of actively searching for a long period of time.

actively sought for

Stresses the proactive and deliberate nature of the search.

consider as necessary for

Indicates that someone/something is viewed as essential and needed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "long wanted for" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives such as "sought after for" or "desired for a long time" to express the same idea with better grammatical structure.

Is "long wanted for" grammatically correct?

No, Ludwig AI marks the phrase as grammatically incorrect. Better alternatives should be employed for clear communication.

What does "long wanted for" mean?

The phrase is intended to convey that someone or something has been desired or needed for an extended period, usually for a specific purpose or quality. However, its structure is not grammatically standard.

Are there contexts where "long wanted for" might be acceptable?

While the phrase may appear in informal contexts or non-edited content, it's generally best to avoid it in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "sought after for".