rather longer for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather longer for" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used when discussing a duration or length that is unexpectedly extended, but it is better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "I expected the meeting to be short, but it turned out to be rather longer for my liking."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It will take rather longer for the government to salami-slice the BBC, but that is surely the plan.

The Guardian - Opinion

Still, it would take rather longer for the governments of Britain and America, ostensibly opposed to apartheid, to understand this.

The Economist

But it will take rather longer for sports scientists and designers to crack the underlying problem — the extreme complexity of the aerodynamics of spheres, including soccer balls.

The New York Times - Arts

The sitting of the Commons will be suspended for that half hour - but it will doubtless take rather longer for the results of the vote to emerge.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

In general, data collection times for LA-ICP-MS are rather longer than for XFI; for example, data acquisition of a whole transverse section of rat brain with LA-ICP-MS at a resolution of 120 μm will take 3 4 h, whereas the same resolution XFI scan might take less than 1 h.

Chemical Reviews

Tumours treated whilst still microscopic show a rather longer delay for the same dose.

British Journal of Cancer

Mr Gott has been connected with Rolls-Royce for rather longer than BMW, working for 18 bumpy years during which the marque hit as many lows as highs.

The Guardian - Business

We now turn to those on a rather longer timescale, allowing for the interactions between the subsystems and for processes of protein synthesis/degradation to become more important.

BMC Systems Biology

But Aviva's general insurance business, which has been through the restructuring wringer for rather longer, achieves 93%.

The Guardian - Business

As it happens, I've been following the work of the N.B.E.R. committee for rather longer than Dr. Frankel has been sitting on it.

The New Yorker

In the 1980s, he had written a regular column of disrespectful political comment for Punch, and now he began to contribute to the Spectator, writing on television and for rather longer on wine (along with food, a consistent Hoggartian passion).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather longer for", consider whether a more direct synonym like "somewhat longer" or "considerably longer" would improve clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid using "rather longer for" in informal contexts. This phrase is more suited for formal writing and may sound stilted in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "a bit longer" or "much longer".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather longer for" functions as an adverbial modifier specifying the degree to which something is longer, typically referring to time or duration. As Ludwig AI suggests, it could be expressed more directly by rephrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather longer for" is a phrase used to express that something takes more time or extends further than expected. Ludwig AI notes that it isn't standard in written English and may cause confusion, suggesting to rephrase for better clarity. While grammatically acceptable, it's more common in news and scientific contexts, lending itself to a neutral tone. The phrase is relatively rare, and when writing, consider if a more direct alternative such as "somewhat longer" or "considerably longer" could enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat longer for

Emphasizes a slightly extended duration, maintaining a similar level of formality.

considerably longer for

Highlights a notably extended duration, increasing the degree of difference.

significantly longer for

Similar to "considerably longer for", but emphasizes the importance of the extended duration.

substantially longer for

Emphasizes a large increase in duration or extent.

appreciably longer for

Suggests a noticeable or measurable increase in duration.

measurably longer for

Focuses on the ability to quantify the extended duration.

markedly longer for

Highlights the noticeable difference in duration.

noticeably longer for

Similar to "markedly longer for", indicating an easily observed difference.

a good deal longer for

Less formal, indicating a substantial increase in duration.

palpably longer for

Indicates that the increased duration is easily perceived or felt.

FAQs

What does "rather longer for" mean?

The phrase "rather longer for" indicates that something takes more time or is more extended than initially expected. It suggests a duration or extent that is somewhat or considerably longer than a reference point or previous expectation.

How can I use "rather longer for" in a sentence?

You can use "rather longer for" to describe a duration that is unexpectedly extended. For example, "The process took "somewhat longer for" the new system to adapt to the updated configuration than initially anticipated."

What are some alternatives to "rather longer for"?

Alternatives to "rather longer for" include "somewhat longer for", "considerably longer for", or "significantly longer for", depending on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "rather longer for" grammatically correct?

Yes, "rather longer for" is grammatically acceptable, although Ludwig AI suggests it might be more clearly expressed by rephrasing. It functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the adjective "longer", specifying the degree to which something is extended in time or extent.