once longer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "once longer" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and does not convey a clear meaning without additional context. Example: "The project was once longer than it is now, but we managed to shorten it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Revision cycles were once longer, but used books have been eating deeper and deeper into publishers' profits.

The New Yorker

It stands 49m high and spans 275m, although it was once longer.

BBC

Once longer term follow-up data are available, cost-effectiveness ratios will be calculated.

BMJ Open

Once longer follow-up is available for the TCGA cohort, it would be important to corroborate the prognostic value of this CIN70 signature for this independent group of patients.

BMC Cancer

Our conclusions are fit for the follow-up time of our cohort, and we hope that once longer follow-up is available in this study cohort, we will be able to re-evaluate this patient sample.

Acta Orthopaedica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The ideal material would (1) provide adequate mechanical fixation, (2) completely degrade once no longer needed, and (3) be completely replaced by bone.

Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery

Once no longer employed, these overachievers apply their many skills to parenting, ratcheting up the pressure on everyone else.

Huffington Post

In general, the more food you microwave at once, the longer it will take to cook.

WikiHow

Once the longer end is at the front again, cross over your chest and over the opposite shoulder.

WikiHow

Cook the veggies for about ten minutes, making sure to remove chicken once no longer pink on the inside.

WikiHow

The gossip and the secrets she had once traded no longer amused everyone; she no longer knew who everyone was.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "once longer" in formal writing. Instead, opt for clearer and grammatically correct alternatives like "was once longer" or "previously longer".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "once" incorrectly to modify comparatives. "Once" indicates a point in time, while comparatives like "longer" require context indicating a change or comparison over time. Use alternatives like "previously longer" or "formerly longer" to correct this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once longer" attempts to function as an adverbial modifier, indicating a past state. However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is not standard in English. While the individual words have grammatical roles, their combination is typically ungrammatical.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once longer" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and unclear in standard English. Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard. Although attempts to use it appear across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, it's best to opt for clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives like "was once longer", "previously longer", or "formerly longer" to avoid miscommunication. These alternatives accurately convey the intended meaning of something having a greater duration or length in the past.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Was once longer

Highlights a specific point in the past when the duration or length was greater.

Had a longer duration

Simple and direct way to express a past state of greater duration.

Previously longer

Emphasizes that something was of greater length in the past.

Formerly longer

Similar to 'previously longer', indicating a past state of greater length.

Used to be longer

Expresses that something had a greater duration in the past, with a focus on it being a habitual state.

Longer in the past

Directly states that the duration was greater at a previous time.

Greater length before

Focuses on the comparison of length before a certain point.

Extended duration initially

Indicates an initial, more prolonged period.

Initially more lengthy

Similar to the previous but uses a synonym for 'longer'.

Of longer duration initially

Emphasis is on 'duration' in an initial timeframe.

FAQs

Is "once longer" grammatically correct?

No, "once longer" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "was once longer" or "previously longer".

What does "once longer" try to convey?

The phrase "once longer" attempts to express that something had a greater duration or length in the past. However, it's not idiomatic. Instead, use clearer alternatives like "used to be longer".

Which is the correct way to say something was longer in the past?

The correct ways to phrase that something was longer in the past include "it used to be longer", "it was formerly longer", or "it was "previously longer"". These are grammatically sound and easily understood.

What are some alternatives to "once longer"?

Alternatives to "once longer" include "had a longer duration", "was of longer duration", and "was longer in the past". These alternatives provide clarity and grammatical accuracy.