pretty long time

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty long time" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a relatively long period of time, for example: "I haven't seen him in a pretty long time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

A pretty long time.

The New Yorker

"It sounds like a pretty long time.

The New Yorker

"I've known Bill for a pretty long time," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

"We've been together a pretty long time," Mr. Dantona said.

The New York Times

"I had a pretty long time to look.

The New York Times - Sports

"That's a pretty long time to have your streets in suspended animation.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

It was a chance to facilitate the behavior that people were already taking part in, as well as reinvigorate user engagement around a product that has a pretty long life time.

TechCrunch

It's true they are giving themselves a pretty long lead time to turn their plastic prototype into a working chunk of waterproof electronics — saying they "expect Evas to ship by next fall".

TechCrunch

Bad News: If you own a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 handset, you've been waiting a pretty friggin' long time for an update.

TechCrunch

But God kept her around for a pretty good long time.

Vice

But I thought that -- I didn't know it was going to be like a month or two later, I mean to me that was just pretty a long time because who's going to remember what happened next month.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of "pretty long time" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives such as "considerable duration" or "extended period".

Common error

While "pretty long time" is acceptable in many contexts, it can sound out of place in formal reports or academic papers. Replace it with a more sophisticated equivalent to maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty long time" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It quantifies a period, indicating it is considerably extended, as supported by Ludwig examples that show it describing durations in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty long time" is a commonly used phrase to describe a duration that is subjectively perceived as lengthy. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely understood. While its register leans toward informal, it is frequently found in news and media sources. For more formal writing, consider alternatives like "considerable duration" or "extended period". When deciding to use "pretty long time", ensure that your writing context is appropriate for a slightly informal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended period

Focuses on the duration being extended or prolonged.

lengthy span

Highlights the duration as a continuous stretch or interval.

long stretch

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the time period.

significant duration

Similar to considerable duration, but can also imply importance.

considerable duration

Replaces "pretty" with a more formal adjective emphasizing the length of time.

substantial timeframe

Implies that the time period is of significant size or importance.

protracted period

Conveys a sense of the time being drawn out or prolonged, often implying difficulty.

awhile

A simple and direct way to refer to "long time".

good while

An informal alternative to express the concept of "long time".

an age

An idiomatic way to describe a very long time.

FAQs

How can I use "pretty long time" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty long time" to describe an extended duration, such as: "I haven't seen my family in a "good while"." or "It took a "lengthy span" to complete the project".

What phrases are similar to "pretty long time"?

Alternatives to "pretty long time" include "considerable duration", "extended period", or "lengthy span" depending on the level of formality you desire.

Is "pretty long time" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty long time" is generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider using more precise or sophisticated alternatives such as "significant duration" or "substantial timeframe".

What's the difference between "pretty long time" and "very long time"?

"Pretty long time" and "very long time" are similar, but "pretty" softens the statement slightly. "Very long time" emphasizes the length more strongly.