may take long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may take long" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
Example: "Please be aware that the project may take long to complete due to the extensive research and planning involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Unfortunately, due to various reasons, to achieve the balance between saving and investment may take long time.

The Economist

Even two hedge funds that appear similar for instance, both may take long and short positions in European equities may have different risk profiles.

The Economist

"Michael's sedation is being reduced in order to allow the start of the waking up process which may take long time," Kehm confirmed.

Independent

Since many experiments require large number of cells, sorting runs may take long times posing quality issues to sorted cells.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Urban signal timing is a non-convex problem and finding an optimal solution for not very small and simple networks may take long time, wherever possible.

Transportation Research Procedia

Supporting investments and policies need to be put in place to avoid abandonment of agricultural fields, and the consequent degradation that may take long to restore.

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

It may not take long to find out, and the vulnerability may go far beyond Web sites or e-mail.

The New York Times - Tech

That may not take long.

The New York Times

It may not take long to find out.

The Economist

It may not take long for the Astros to feel the fallout from this playoff loss.

The New York Times - Sports

With more hurricane seasons to come, it may not take long to find out.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "may take long", consider specifying the type of time involved (e.g., "may take a long time", "may take long hours") for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "may take long" without providing context or reason. Briefly explain why the process might be lengthy to enhance understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may take long" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing possibility combined with a verb phrase indicating duration. As supported by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and is used to suggest that something might require a considerable amount of time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may take long" is a grammatically correct expression indicating that something is expected to require a considerable amount of time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across diverse contexts, including science, news, and general writing. Though versatile, consider specifying the time duration involved and providing context for clarity. Alternative phrases like "could be lengthy" or "might require significant time" can add variety to your writing. It's a common phrase with neutral register, useful for managing expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be lengthy

Focuses on the potential extended duration.

might be protracted

Emphasizes a drawn-out or prolonged nature.

could require significant time

Highlights the amount of time potentially needed.

might need considerable time

Similar to the previous, stressing the extent of time possibly necessary.

may involve a lengthy period

Focuses on the duration using the word "period".

might extend for a while

Suggests an indefinite but potentially long duration.

could go on for some time

Implies that the duration can be extensive.

might span a considerable duration

Highlights the extent of duration.

may stretch out considerably

Focuses on the idea of extending or prolonging.

could involve a drawn-out process

Emphasizes that the process could be lengthy and protracted.

FAQs

How can I use "may take long" in a sentence?

You can use "may take long" to indicate that a process or activity could require a considerable amount of time. For example, "The project "may take long" due to unforeseen complications."

What alternatives can I use instead of "may take long"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "could be lengthy", "might require significant time", or "could go on for some time".

Is it better to say "may take a long time" or "may take long"?

"May take a long time" is often clearer and more grammatically precise. While ""may take long"" is commonly used, including "a time" provides additional clarity.

What does it mean when something "may take long"?

When someone says something ""may take long"", it means the activity or process is expected to require a considerable amount of time to complete. It suggests a potentially extended duration.