rather long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather long" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a significant length or duration, often in a subjective manner. Example: "The meeting was rather long, lasting over two hours without a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The list is rather long.

The New York Times

Please forgive me that it's rather long.

The New Yorker

That M62 corridor is getting rather long.

The Guardian - Sport

Like many school concerts, the Christmas program was rather long.

The New York Times - Arts

Bustards have rather long legs, adapted to running.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The legs are rather long, reflecting a preference for walking.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So did she enjoy their rather long screen kiss?

The New York Times

CONS: It's a rather long walk to the nearest subway.

The New York Times

It has been a rather long time coming.

The New York Times

Seems like a rather long gestation period, for a vehicle that looks prêt-à-porter now.

The New York Times

It is about 13 cm long, with a rather long tail and a tiny bill.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather long" to subtly indicate that something exceeds the expected or desired length without being overly critical.

Common error

In highly formal or academic contexts, consider more precise alternatives like "considerably extended" or "significantly prolonged" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather long" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying nouns to indicate a significant, but not extreme, extent in length or duration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in English writing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

29%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

9%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather long" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to describe something that has a considerable length or duration. It is grammatically correct and commonly used, according to Ludwig AI. While suitable for various contexts, it's important to consider the formality of the writing. More precise alternatives might be preferable in highly formal or scientific writing. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Science sources, offering a subtle way to indicate that something exceeds the expected length without being overly critical. Understanding its subjective nature and choosing alternatives thoughtfully will enhance the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat lengthy

Replaces "rather" with "somewhat", softening the degree of length.

moderately extended

Substitutes both words, providing a more formal tone.

fairly prolonged

Uses "fairly" instead of "rather", offering a slight shift in emphasis.

quite extensive

Changes to "quite extensive", suggesting a wider scope or range.

reasonably protracted

Employs more formal and less common vocabulary.

a bit drawn-out

Adopts a more informal and colloquial tone.

slightly elongated

Focuses more on physical length than duration.

comparatively sustained

Shifts the emphasis to the continuous nature of the duration.

noticeably extended

Highlights the perceptibility of the length.

appreciably increased in length

Provides a more descriptive and less concise alternative.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather long" to describe the duration or length of something. For example: "The meeting was "rather long", lasting over two hours", or "The document was "rather long", requiring several days to read".

What's a more formal alternative to "rather long"?

In more formal settings, consider using phrases like "considerably extended", "significantly prolonged", or "moderately extended" instead of "rather long".

Is "rather long" subjective or objective?

"Rather long" is generally subjective, as it depends on the speaker's or writer's perception of what constitutes a significant length or duration. A ""rather long"" wait for one person might be perfectly acceptable to another.

What's the difference between "rather long" and "very long"?

"Rather long" implies a length that is somewhat beyond the expected or desired, but not excessively so. "Very long" indicates a greater degree of length, suggesting something is substantially longer than average.