too long of a wait

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too long of a wait" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing frustration or dissatisfaction with the duration of a wait for something. Example: "After waiting for over an hour, I realized it was too long of a wait for a table at the restaurant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But after an hour, it became too long of a wait for him to return.

The New York Times - Sports

After way too long of a wait, we finally have a sequel from the famed Canon 5D Mark III.

Huffington Post

Too long of a wait will be torturous.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

After far too long of waiting for a cab, I admitted defeat and resolved to wait for the bus.

Huffington Post

Particularly given this morning's launch of Gmail for Mobile and the market imperative, the end of next year seems like too long a wait.

TechCrunch

"In an atomic age," Hendrickson argued, "four years is too long a time to wait for the correction of policies which the people feel they cannot bear".

The New Yorker

Six patients who reported waiting too long for an ambulance waited between 5 hours and all day.

Family Practice

"Five seconds is too long to wait for a response!

Independent

"That was too much of a gap, too long to wait and too close to the start of production.

The New York Times

At last impatient, anger had not allowed a woman who had waited too long to wait, again, until she was alone: they sensed enough of truth in that.

The New Yorker

Two years is a bit too long to wait really.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "too long of a wait", consider your audience. In formal writing, a more concise term like "excessive delay" may be preferable. In informal contexts, "too long of a wait" effectively conveys frustration.

Common error

Avoid confusing "too" (meaning also or excessively) with "to" (a preposition). "Too long of a wait" correctly uses "too" to indicate the excessive length of the wait. Using "to" would be grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too long of a wait" functions as a subjective assessment of duration, expressing the speaker's or writer's perception that the waiting time is excessive or undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too long of a wait" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to express frustration over extended waiting times. While considered correct by Ludwig AI, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives such as "excessive delay" in professional settings. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources. When writing, be mindful of potential confusion with "to" and consider the stylistic impact of this phrase in relation to your intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessive waiting time

Replaces the more conversational "too long of a wait" with a more formal, direct description of the delay.

unacceptably long delay

Highlights the unacceptability of the wait, adding a stronger negative connotation.

protracted period of waiting

Emphasizes the extended duration of the wait, using more formal language.

unduly extended wait

Similar to 'unacceptably long delay', but uses "unduly" to convey the inappropriateness of the length.

overly lengthy waiting period

Focuses on the length of the waiting period, stressing that it is excessive.

an eternity to wait

Emphasizes the frustration and perception of time passing slowly while waiting, using hyperbole.

a seemingly endless wait

Highlights the subjective experience of the wait feeling very long and without a clear end.

a tiresome wait

Focuses on the weariness and frustration caused by the long wait.

a prolonged waiting period

Simplifies the phrase by focusing on the prolonged nature of the waiting period

an unreasonable amount of waiting

Emphasizes the injustice or lack of justification for the extensive wait time.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "too long of a wait" for a formal context?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "excessive waiting time", "unacceptably long delay", or "protracted period of waiting" /s/protracted+period+of+waiting. These options offer a more professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

What are some informal alternatives to "too long of a wait"?

For less formal situations, you could say it was "an eternity to wait" or that the wait was "a seemingly endless wait". These phrases emphasize the frustration and subjective feeling of time.

Is it grammatically correct to say "too long a wait" instead of "too long of a wait"?

Both "too long of a wait" and "too long a wait" are grammatically acceptable, though "too long a wait" is often considered more stylistically elegant and concise.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "too long of a wait"?

The phrase "too long of a wait" is suitable when you want to express your dissatisfaction or frustration with the length of time spent waiting for something. It implies that the waiting time was excessive or unreasonable.