started for a long time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "started for a long time" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to convey that something has been ongoing for an extended period, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The project has started for a long time, but we are still facing challenges."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"It wasn't going to be started for a long time," the employee said.

The New York Times

"Guys who have started for a long time, like Troy or Dan Marino, couldn't do it.

The New York Times - Sports

It's the poorest we've started for a long time and we didn't get any better, hence we lost the game.

BBC

"It's funny, I first talked to Samsung about building Evernote into a refrigerator in 2008 and nothing got started for a long time," he reveals.

BBC

"After the war started, for a long time there were no doctors here and no centres," she recalls.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

A lot of the really big projects are now finished, says Wright, and "the new big projects won't start for a long time.

The Guardian - Business

[B]y making the horrible [Iran nuclear] deal, one of the worst deals I've ever seen made in my entire life, giving them $150 billion and 24-day check periods, which don't start for a long time after that, 24-day check periods, self-inspection, we don't get our prisoners back, our four prisoners, we don't get them back.

Huffington Post

Why he'd loved teaching, when he started, and for a long time.

The New Yorker

"This is a track that Petey had started, and for a long time I think the vocal was just kind of entertaining to us both.

Vice

There has been a part of us wishing we could start again for a long time.

The Guardian - Sport

And I didn't start it for a long time.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the phrase "started for a long time", opt for clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "has been ongoing for a long time" or "began a long time ago" to ensure your writing is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "started for a long time" because it is not standard English. Instead, clearly state when something began and how long it has lasted using phrases like "it began long ago and continues to this day".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started for a long time" attempts to indicate that something began in the past and has continued for a considerable duration. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically awkward. It's generally used to describe the duration of an event or process.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "started for a long time" attempts to convey that something began in the past and has lasted a while, it is not considered standard English. Ludwig AI marks it as grammatically awkward. It appears infrequently, primarily in news and media contexts. For clearer and more effective communication, consider using alternatives like "has been ongoing for a long time" or "began a long time ago". Be mindful of your audience and aim for grammatically sound phrasing to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

been underway for a while

This alternative indicates that something has been in progress for a certain period, replacing "started" with "been underway" for improved clarity.

has been going on for quite some time

This alternative is a more conversational way of saying that something has been happening for a long duration.

initiated some time ago

This alternative emphasizes the initiation point and implies that it happened a considerable time in the past, substituting a more formal tone.

in progress for an extended duration

This alternative uses a more formal tone and highlights that the activity has been happening continuously for a notable period.

began a long while back

This alternative uses more informal language while conveying the same meaning of something starting far in the past.

commenced long ago

This alternative provides a more formal and concise way of indicating a start in the distant past.

was launched a considerable time ago

This alternative uses "launched" to imply the start of something significant, emphasizing the period since its inception.

established long ago

This alternative specifies that something was set up or founded in the distant past, maintaining the emphasis on the duration.

in effect for a long period

This alternative emphasizes that something has been active or operational for an extended time.

under development for an extended time

This alternative is used when referring to a project or plan that has been in the process of development for a long time.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "started for a long time" to sound more natural?

To sound more natural, replace "started for a long time" with phrases such as "has been ongoing for a long time", "began a long time ago", or "has been in progress for a long time".

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "started for a long time"?

A grammatically correct alternative would be to use phrases like "initiated some time ago", or rephrase to say something "has been underway for a while".

Is it acceptable to use "started for a long time" in formal writing?

No, it is not advisable to use "started for a long time" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and standard phrases such as "established long ago" or "commenced long ago".

How does "started for a long time" differ from "has been starting for a long time"?

"Started for a long time" is grammatically awkward and less clear. "Has been starting for a long time" suggests a repeated action of starting, whereas phrases like "has been in effect for a long period" or "has been going on for quite some time" better convey continuous duration.