twice as long

USAGE SUMMARY

'twice as long' is correct and can be used in written English.
You would use it when comparing the length of two items. For example: "My song was twice as long as yours."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

At least twice as long, studies suggest.

The New York Times

Seasons are almost twice as long there.

The New York Times - Science

And spend twice as long doing it?

The New York Times

Other jobs also take twice as long.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"In 1996, it took twice as long".

The New York Times

How long was twice as long as that?

The New Yorker

Even her neck seems to become twice as long.

The New York Times - Arts

It now takes more than twice as long.

The Economist

I wish it had been twice as long.

The Guardian - Books

He spoke longer, but not twice as long.

The New York Times

"Everyone says: twice as long, twice as much".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "twice as long" when you want to clearly and concisely indicate that something is double the length or duration of something else. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "twice as long" when you actually mean 'slightly longer'. "Twice as long" signifies a precise doubling, not just a marginal increase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "twice as long" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective, expressing a quantitative comparison of length or duration. It specifies that one thing is double the length of another, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "twice as long" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating that something is double in length or duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability across various contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. To ensure clarity, use it precisely to denote a doubling, not a mere increase. Common alternatives include "double the duration" or "two times the length", and the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

double the duration

Emphasizes the numerical multiplication of the length, focusing on the resulting amount.

two times the length

Directly states the multiplicative factor of length, similar in meaning but more explicit.

extended by 100 percent

Expresses the increase as a percentage, highlighting the relative change in length.

increased twofold

Uses a formal term to indicate doubling, suitable for technical or formal contexts.

length is doubled

Focuses on the action of doubling the length, rather than the comparative state.

lasting twice the amount

Focuses on the duration, indicating a duration that is double the standard.

twice the duration

Focuses specifically on time, directly indicating the duration is doubled.

double in length

Similar to "twice as long" but emphasizes the attribute of length being doubled.

the length is doubled

Focuses on the state of the object's length being doubled, implying a previous length.

increased by two-fold

A slightly more complex way of saying something has doubled in length or duration.

FAQs

How can I use "twice as long" in a sentence?

You can use "twice as long" to compare the length or duration of two things. For example, "The movie was "twice as long" as the play".

What's a more formal way to say "twice as long"?

While "twice as long" is suitable for most situations, you could use phrases like "double the duration" or "two times the length" for a slightly more formal tone.

Is it correct to say "twice longer" instead of "twice as long"?

No, "twice longer" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing is ""twice as long"".

What's the difference between "twice as long" and "half as long"?

"Twice as long" means something is double the length, while "half as long" means something is half the length. They represent opposite proportional relationships.