protracted time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "protracted time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duration that is extended or prolonged beyond what is usual or expected. Example: "The negotiations took a protracted time, leading to frustration among the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

The biological basis of this link is likely to be multi-factorial including both age-associated decline in anti-oncogenic functions, such as repair of oxidative damage to DNA, timing of etiologic exposures and/or protracted time required for accumulation of a full set of oncogenic mutations [ 1, 2].

Aging

Ever since my sister's death, I've been convinced that any protracted time spent with a health-care professional is a prelude to terminal illness.

The New Yorker

The protracted "time to build" means that if property prices shoot up, only the builders who started work years ago benefit.

The Economist

If we have a very protracted time when companies are strapped for cash, they may decide not to use outplacement services.

The New York Times

Moreover, a number of trends are converging to act as protracted time bombs: water is increasingly scarce, a problem exacerbated by climate change; the region is already the biggest grain importer in the world; and the demographic bulge is swelling by the year.

The Economist

The TIPS method eliminates the need and protracted time for titering virus supernatants, and provides stable, concentrated storage of recombinant baculovirus in the form of infected cells.

Protein Expression and Purification

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Only a handful of city governments of the developed and developing world have control over their metropolitan area, reflecting different institutional arrangements and the protracted time-lag required to align urban growth "on the ground" with political boundaries.

The Guardian

In such circumstances, we would anticipate that some of the patients experiencing protracted time-to-diagnosis (especially those with myeloma and lymphoma) are included in the group that die soon after diagnosis and in hospital.

BMC Palliative Care

Sitting on a sofa with a blanket over his knees, looking pale and vulnerable, he recounted his brief good times and protracted bad times with disarming honesty in a quiet, hesitant voice.

The Guardian - Books

This resulted in galvanic corrosion at the substrate/coating interfaces and formation of magnesium corrosion products, which eventually led to coating spalling in the case of salt fog tests after protracted times of exposure.

Surface and Coatings Technology

No doubt Gehry believes honorably that he has considered them but his view flies in the face of the realities of maintenance during these protracted times of limited public resources and constantly advancing options for co-existing virtual interface.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "protracted time" to emphasize that a process or event takes longer than expected or desired. It adds a nuance of inconvenience or difficulty due to the extended duration.

Common error

Avoid using "protracted time" when simply describing something that is naturally long. Reserve it for situations where the length of time is unexpectedly or problematically extended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "protracted time" functions as a noun phrase, where "protracted" acts as an adjective modifying "time". It describes a duration that is extended or prolonged. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "protracted time" is a grammatically sound and frequently utilized expression to describe an extended duration, often implying that the length is unexpectedly long or inconvenient. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its usage is especially common in scientific and news contexts, as evidenced by the examples. When writing, consider alternatives like "extended duration" or "lengthy period", but reserve "protracted time" for situations where the extended duration is a notable or problematic aspect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extended duration

Emphasizes the length of the period.

lengthy period

Highlights the extended nature of the time frame.

prolonged interval

Focuses on the increased duration between two points in time.

extended timeframe

Implies a specific window of time that is longer than usual.

long-lasting period

Highlights the enduring quality of the duration.

considerable time

Emphasizes the substantial amount of time involved.

substantial duration

Similar to considerable time, but more formal.

extended spell

Suggests a continuous period of activity or condition.

long stretch

Indicates an unbroken period of time.

long haul

Often implies endurance and perseverance over a significant duration.

FAQs

How can I use "protracted time" in a sentence?

Use "protracted time" to describe situations where something takes longer than expected. For example, "The negotiations took a "protracted time" to conclude."

What are some alternatives to "protracted time"?

Alternatives include "extended duration", "lengthy period", or "prolonged interval". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "protracted time" formal or informal?

"Protracted time" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, such as news reports and scientific papers. It is less common in informal conversation.

What is the difference between "protracted time" and "long time"?

"Protracted time" implies a sense of something being drawn out or unnecessarily extended, whereas "long time" simply indicates a significant duration without necessarily implying it's problematic.