more long than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more long than" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "longer than." Example: "This road is longer than the one we took yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Scandinavians call it Langfredag or Långefredagen, and indeed it must have felt more "long" than "good" for its central character and his loved ones.Only Dutch, among the major western European languages, joins English in calling it "Good Friday".

The Economist

Also note that individual investors tend to have more long than short positions, and that the securities administrators' survey took place in a bull market (1998-1999).

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The result is that the Spaniards are playing far more long balls than they'd like.

The New York Times

So, the Chancellor's "long Term Economic plan" is bit more long term than he might once have hoped.

Independent

7 Seven teams took more long throws than Stoke City this season (Tottenham took the most, 346).

The Guardian - Sport

Measuring for success is more long term than short term.

TechCrunch

In the sleep diary they reported significantly more long awakenings than controls while sleep times did not differ.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

They were among the lowest passers, and hit more long balls than any other team in the Premier League.

BBC

The average student from a higher-income background earned 10percentt more long term than one from a lower-income background.

Vice

Men have more long car trips than women.

European Transport Research Review

Curiosity is more long-burning than discipline, more powerful than passion, and it slices through resistance like Michael Phelps through water.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing lengths, consider whether 'longer' or an alternative like 'more extended' provides the most clarity and precision.

Common error

Don't use "more long than". This construction is grammatically incorrect. Always use "longer than" when comparing lengths or durations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more long than" functions as a comparative, attempting to establish a greater degree of length or duration. However, according to Ludwig, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "longer than".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "more long than" may appear in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct and preferred alternative is "longer than". According to Ludwig, this grammatical error makes "more long than" unsuitable for formal writing. When comparing lengths or durations, "longer than" provides clarity and precision. Ludwig examples, although limited, underscore the infrequent and non-standard usage of the original phrase. Therefore, writers should avoid "more long than" and opt for its grammatically sound alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longer than

This is the most direct and grammatically correct replacement, focusing on length.

more extended than

Emphasizes the extent of something in a way that is grammatically correct.

greater in length than

A formal alternative, focusing specifically on the measurement of length.

more protracted than

Highlights the duration of something, suggesting it has been unnecessarily prolonged.

more time-consuming than

Focuses on the amount of time required.

of greater duration than

A formal way to describe something lasting a longer time.

more durable than

Emphasizes the ability to last for a significant period.

more lasting than

Indicates something having a more enduring effect or presence.

more sustained than

Highlights the continuous nature of something over a period of time.

more chronic than

Suggests a condition or situation that is long-lasting and persistent.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "more long than"?

The correct way to express this comparison is to use "longer than". For example, instead of saying "The wait was more long than expected", say "The wait was longer than expected".

Are there alternatives to using "longer than"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "more extended than" or "more protracted than" if you want to emphasize the duration or drawn-out nature of something.

Is "more long than" ever correct?

No, "more long than" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Always use "longer than" for comparisons of length or duration.

How do I remember to use "longer than" instead of "more long than"?

Think of "long" as an adjective that forms its comparative with "-er". Other examples include "tall/taller" and "short/shorter". This can help you remember that "longer" is the correct comparative form.