quite long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite long time" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would be "quite a long time." You can use it when referring to an extended duration of time in a more informal context. Example: "I haven't seen you in quite a long time; we should catch up soon."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Antoninus Pius again was–he reigned for a quite long time.

Yale University

It was found from the experiment that the sensor could be applied for a quite long time (about 90 times).

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Excavation of shafts and other vertical structures in mining and civil engineering fields for material and human transportation and ventilation purposes is a difficult job taking quite long time to realize.

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology

For a quite long time, I have had a weird feeling that something is missing in my daily life during the passed spring semester and I just could not figure out what it was.

Cornell University

However, it practically takes quite long time to run MD simulation in this range of particle sizes.

Nanoscale Research Letters

But due to the heavy-tailed phenomena [29, 30], CG would need a quite long time to reach this optimal value.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"It would take quite a long time and cost quite a bit of money to do it".

BBC

A long mean free path such as 2.0 AU results in a quite long injection time.

Earth, Planets and Space

Some lived quite a long time.

The New York Times - Science

It was quite a long time ago.

The Guardian - Music

It took me quite a long time.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal writing, prefer "quite a long time" or more precise terms like "considerable period" instead of "quite long time".

Common error

Ensure you include the article "a" when using "quite" to modify "long time." The correct form is "quite a long time." Omitting "a" can make the phrase sound awkward or ungrammatical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite long time" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective to indicate duration. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this construction is not grammatically correct in standard written English. The correct form is "quite a long time."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

29%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite long time" is used to describe a duration that is longer than average, yet Ludwig AI identifies the construction as grammatically incorrect, suggesting the more appropriate phrase is "quite a long time". While examples appear in scientific, news, and academic contexts, its usage isn't universally accepted. For formal writing, alternatives like "considerable period" or "significant duration" may be preferred. Therefore, while understanding its meaning is valuable, carefully consider your audience and purpose before using "quite long time" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable period of time

Emphasizes the substantial length of the duration.

extended duration

Focuses on the length and continuation of the time.

significant length of time

Highlights the importance of the time period.

protracted period

Suggests a time frame that is longer than average or expected.

lengthy interval

Focuses on the gap between two points in time.

substantial amount of time

Highlights the quantity of time involved.

a good while

More informal way to indicate a noticeable duration.

a long stretch

Implies an unbroken period of time.

for ages

Informal and hyperbolic way to say a long time.

a long haul

Indicates a task or process that takes a significant amount of time and effort.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say it, "quite long time" or "quite a long time"?

The correct and more widely accepted way to phrase it is "quite a long time." While "quite long time" might be encountered, it is not considered grammatically sound in standard English.

What does "quite a long time" mean?

The phrase "quite a long time" means a considerable duration; it is longer than average or expected.

Can I use other words instead of "quite" in "quite a long time"?

Yes, you can replace "quite" with words like "fairly", "rather", or "relatively" depending on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "quite a long time" formal or informal?

"Quite a long time" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. For more formal writing, consider using phrases like "considerable period of time" or "significant duration".