not very long

USAGE SUMMARY

"not very long" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is relatively short in duration or amount. For example: "This book report is not very long, so I should be able to finish it quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Not very long".

The New Yorker

Not very long, apparently.

The Guardian - Sport

My answer is not very long.

The New York Times

The distances were not very long.

The New York Times - Sports

Some days it is not very long.

The New York Times - Sports

A month? That's not very long.

The Guardian - Sport

"But it's not very long," I said.

The New Yorker

Not very long, as it happens.

The New York Times

Not very long ago huge beasts roamed every continent.

The Economist

Not very long, according to Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey.

The New York Times

Not very long ago it was an urban sewer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not very long" to downplay the duration or distance when you want to reassure someone or avoid exaggerating.

Common error

While "not very long" is widely understood, consider using more precise language like "a short period" or "briefly" in formal writing to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very long" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the duration or extent of an action or state. It indicates that something is of short duration. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

8%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not very long" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a short duration or distance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use, although potentially less formal than alternatives like "briefly" or "a short period". It appears most commonly in News & Media, but can also be found in scientific writing. When writing, bear in mind that while understood in all contexts, more specific language may be desirable for formal documents. This guide offers alternatives like ""a short time"", ""briefly"" or ""a little while"" depending on the context and desired formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a short time

Replaces "very long" with a more direct measure of time.

briefly

Conveys brevity in a single word, suitable for describing duration.

not lasting long

Emphasizes the lack of duration rather than the amount of time.

a little while

Indicates a short, indefinite period.

a short period

More formal than "a little while" but expresses the same idea.

not a lengthy duration

A more formal and somewhat emphatic way of saying "not very long".

a quick spell

Suggests a short period, typically used in informal contexts.

a fleeting moment

Implies the time passed almost unnoticeably.

a concise interval

Focuses on the shortness and precision of the time period.

in no time

Suggests something will happen quickly, rather than describing a duration.

FAQs

What does "not very long" mean?

The phrase "not very long" indicates a short duration or distance. It implies that something will not take much time or cover a significant amount of space.

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

You can use "not very long" to describe a period or distance, such as "The meeting will not be very long" or "The walk is "a short distance"".

What are some alternatives to "not very long"?

Alternatives to "not very long" include "a short time", "briefly", or "a little while". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "not too long" instead of "not very long"?

Yes, "not too long" is a similar expression and often interchangeable with "not very long", though the nuance might slightly differ depending on the context.