not so long

USAGE SUMMARY

"not so long" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when you want to indicate that something is not taking an especially long amount of time, or is not taking longer than expected. For example, "I've been waiting here for not so long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(So had Perry, not so long ago).

The New York Times

Not so long ago, things were different.

The Economist

NOT so long ago television was scary.

The Economist

Not so long, it turns out.

The New Yorker

Maybe not so long ago.

The Guardian - Books

One day is not so long.

University of California, Berkeley

Central time, not so long after coffee.

The Washington Post

Yes, but it's not so long.

The New Yorker

It used to, not so long ago.

The New York Times

Not so long ago, food was food.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

That's not so long ago (2006).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not so long" to create a sense of immediacy or contrast with a past state. It's effective when highlighting changes or developments that have occurred relatively recently.

Common error

While acceptable, overuse of "not so long" can make your writing sound repetitive, especially in formal contexts. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "recently" or "in the recent past" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not so long" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an event. It specifies that something occurred in the recent past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not so long" is a versatile and widely used adverbial phrase to indicate that something happened a relatively short time ago. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. It's most common in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone, making it suitable for various writing styles. While its meaning is clear, avoid overusing it in formal writing to maintain reader engagement. Consider using synonyms like "recently" or "in the recent past" for variety. Remember to use "not so long" when you want to emphasize the recency of an event or situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not long ago

A slightly more direct synonym, emphasizing the short passage of time.

just recently

Adds emphasis to the recent occurrence.

only a short time ago

Focuses on the brevity of the time that has passed.

recently

Single word replacement focusing on the recency of an event.

in the recent past

Emphasizes the event happened a relatively short time ago.

in recent memory

Indicates the event is easily recalled because it happened recently.

in recent times

Highlights that the event occurred within the current period.

in the not too distant past

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "not so long ago".

not that long back

Informal way of expressing that something happened not too long ago.

just now

Implies the event occurred very close to the present moment.

FAQs

How can I use "not so long" in a sentence?

You can use "not so long" to indicate that something happened a relatively short time ago, like in the sentence, "Not so long ago, this area was just farmland".

What are some alternatives to "not so long"?

Some alternatives to "not so long" include "recently", "not long ago", or "in the recent past" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "not as long" instead of "not so long"?

While "not as long" is grammatically correct, it has a different meaning. "Not as long" refers to duration, whereas "not so long" refers to a point in time that wasn't very far in the past.

Is "not so long ago" more formal than "not so long"?

"Not so long ago" is a slightly more emphatic way of saying "not so long", but both phrases are generally suitable for similar contexts. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.