not too long

USAGE SUMMARY

"not too long" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to imply that something should not take a long amount of time or should not be excessively long. For example: "I'll be at the store, but I won't be too long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's not too long".

The New Yorker

"Hopefully not too long.

Independent

Not too long after that.

The New York Times - Science

"Wait, but not too long.

Independent

Not too long a piece!

Princeton University

Not too long, hopefully.

The Guardian

The "Manual" is not too long.

The New Yorker

Not too long — just about a year.

The New Yorker

Not too long afterwards, my blintzes arrive.

The New Yorker

Although, hopefully not too long.

The Guardian - Sport

Not too long ago, he had been.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating a time frame, use "not too long" to suggest a relatively short duration. For instance, "The meeting shouldn't take not too long."

Common error

While acceptable in many contexts, avoid excessive use of "not too long" in formal writing. More precise alternatives such as "soon" or "shortly" may be preferable to convey a sense of professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not too long" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate a short duration or a relatively near future time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, appearing in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not too long" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase, commonly employed to indicate a short duration or a relatively recent event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across various sources, including news media, academic publications, and wikis. While perfectly acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives like "soon" or "shortly" might be preferable in highly professional settings. When employing this phrase, it's essential to consider context. In short, it is correct to use "not too long".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it won't be long

Expresses certainty about something happening quickly.

a short while

Emphasizes brevity in duration, conveying an idea of less time.

not long from now

Slightly more emphatic way of saying something will happen soon.

in a little bit

Refers to something happening soon, implying a minimal amount of time passing.

before long

Indicates something will occur relatively soon.

soon

A general term for something happening in the near future, shorter than "not too long".

shortly

Similar to "soon", but suggests a more immediate timeframe.

in due course

Implies something will happen at an appropriate time in the future, but doesn't specify immediacy.

in the near future

More formal way of saying soon

a brief period

Highlights conciseness, suggesting that it will not last.

FAQs

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

You can use "not too long" to indicate a short duration or timeframe. For example, "I'll be back "not too long"" means you will return shortly.

What are some alternatives to "not too long"?

Alternatives include phrases like "a short while", "soon", or "shortly". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not too long ago"?

Yes, "not too long ago" is grammatically correct and commonly used to refer to something that happened in the recent past.

What's the difference between "not too long" and "a little while"?

While both indicate a short duration, "a little while" is often more general, while "not too long" can sometimes imply an expectation or reassurance. For instance, "I'll be there in "a little while"" is less specific than "It won't be "not too long" before the project is complete".