to be prolonged

USAGE SUMMARY

"to be prolonged" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to an event, process, or situation that is continuing for a longer period of time than expected, anticipated, or desired. For example: "We had planned to stay for a week, but our trip had to be prolonged due to unexpected delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The effect tended to be prolonged after repeated treatment.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Or, indeed, might the threat of the Old Ones prove to be prolonged than that?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Be it Gerrard's slip or Costa's hamstring or Arsene's 9 year wait to be prolonged".

The Guardian - Sport

I have come to realise that I do not want my life to be prolonged artificially.

The Guardian - Opinion

Furthermore, the processing time was found to be prolonged by adding the preforming binder.

Composites Part B: Engineering

There are several reasons that the process of forming a government is likely to be prolonged.

The Washington Post

One consequence of this time-tested approach is likely to be prolonged economic and social failure.

The Economist

"We have no interest in prolonging this process any more than it needs to be prolonged".

The New York Times

Even if America avoids an outright recession, its slowdown is likely to be prolonged.

The Economist

But that "glimmers of hope" phrase could come back to haunt him if the recession turns out to be prolonged.

The Guardian

"I have come to realise that I do not want my life to be prolonged artificially," he writes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to be prolonged" when you specifically want to emphasize the continuation of something beyond an expected or desired timeframe. This is especially helpful when discussing negative consequences or impacts due to the extension.

Common error

Avoid using "to be prolonged" when a simpler term like "to continue" or "to last" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be prolonged" functions as part of a passive infinitive construction. It typically acts as a complement to a verb, indicating that something is expected or likely to last longer than anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be prolonged" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as validated by Ludwig. It serves to indicate that something is expected to last longer than initially anticipated, often carrying a nuance of undesirability or unexpectedness. As shown by Ludwig's examples, it is commonly found in scientific, news, and formal contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse and consider simpler alternatives when appropriate, ensuring clarity and conciseness in writing. Furthermore, its neutral register makes it suitable for a broad audience. Ludwig AI confirms that "to be prolonged" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be extended

Indicates an increase in length or duration, often implying a deliberate action.

to be lengthened

Focuses on making something longer, either physically or temporally.

to be drawn out

Highlights the gradual and often slow nature of the extension.

to be protracted

Suggests an undesirable or unnecessary continuation.

to continue

A more general term for ongoing action or existence.

to be ongoing

Emphasizes the continuous nature of something.

to be long-lasting

Indicates something that continues for a significant duration.

to be sustained

Implies that something is maintained or kept going over time.

to be dragged out

Suggests a tedious and unnecessarily extended duration.

to be delayed

Focuses on postponing or deferring something to a later time.

FAQs

How can I use "to be prolonged" in a sentence?

Use "to be prolonged" to describe something lasting longer than expected, such as "The meeting is expected "to be prolonged" due to unforeseen issues".

What are some alternatives to "to be prolonged"?

Consider using phrases like "to be extended", "to be protracted", or simply "to continue" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "the process was prolonged" or "the process was to be prolonged"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "the process was prolonged" implies that the process has already been extended, whereas "the process was "to be prolonged"" suggests a future or intended extension.

What's the difference between "to be prolonged" and "to be extended"?

"To be prolonged" often implies a continuation that is undesirable or unexpected, while "to be extended" simply means to make something longer, without necessarily implying a negative connotation.