often long

USAGE SUMMARY

'often long' is a grammatically correct part of a sentence, and is usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a duration of time, and to contrast it with a shorter duration of time. For example: "My days often long, while my nights are short."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

And Cole's were often long passes hit in hope.

The New York Times - Sports

The work was often long and sometimes intermissionless.

The New Yorker

Questions and answers are often long and complex.

The Economist

Still, life is short and these books are often long.

The New York Times - Books

They are often long, difficult to take apart, and just as difficult to re-assemble.

The Economist

— The lines are often long inside the Art Deco post office here under the palm trees.

The New York Times - Arts

Foreign languages are always useful and commitment to irregular (often long) working hours is important.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

This mass prescribing is often long-term.

The Guardian

His themes are often long-lined and shapely.

The New York Times - Arts

Superfund reality, as defined politically or economically, is often long-range.

The New York Times

"Symbiosis is a close and often long-term interaction between two different species".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "often long" to describe durations or processes that occur frequently and extend for a considerable time. For example: "The recovery period is "often long" and requires patience."

Common error

Avoid using "often long" when you want to emphasize a single, exceptionally long duration. Instead, consider using phrases like "exceptionally long" or "unusually prolonged" to highlight the singularity of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "often long" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing the frequency and extent of duration. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "often long" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase that combines an adverb of frequency with an adjective of duration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys that something occurs repeatedly and extends for a significant time. It is especially common in news and scientific contexts. While alternatives such as "frequently lengthy" or "commonly extended" exist, "often long" maintains a versatile and neutral tone suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frequently lengthy

Replaces "often" with "frequently" and "long" with "lengthy", maintaining the same meaning with slightly more formal vocabulary.

commonly extended

Substitutes "often" with "commonly" and "long" with "extended", focusing on the usual duration.

usually protracted

Replaces "often" with "usually" and "long" with "protracted", emphasizing the duration and its typical occurrence.

generally prolonged

Uses "generally" instead of "often" and "prolonged" in place of "long", indicating a typical extended duration.

typically lengthy

Substitutes "often" with "typically" and "long" with "lengthy", suggesting a standard long duration.

regularly extensive

Replaces "often" with "regularly" and "long" with "extensive", highlighting the consistent large duration.

frequently sustained

Uses "frequently" instead of "often" and "sustained" in place of "long", focusing on the maintained duration.

commonly sustained

Replaces "often" with "commonly" and "long" with "sustained", emphasizing the typical maintained duration.

usually extensive

Substitutes "often" with "usually" and "long" with "extensive", focusing on the typical large duration.

routinely extended

Replaces "often" with "routinely" and "long" with "extended", indicating a standard extended duration.

FAQs

How can I use "often long" in a sentence?

You can use "often long" to describe something that frequently occurs and has a considerable duration. For example: "The lines at the airport are "often long", especially during the holidays."

What are some alternatives to "often long"?

Alternatives include "frequently lengthy", "commonly extended", or "usually protracted", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "often long"?

While both words relate to duration, "often" specifies frequency, and "long" describes the extent of that duration. Using them together clarifies that something happens frequently and lasts for a considerable amount of time. However, context is important, as other phrases may be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "often long" and "always long"?

"Often long" means something frequently has a long duration, while "always long" means it invariably has a long duration. "Always long" implies that there are no exceptions, whereas "often long" suggests there may be some instances where the duration is shorter.