until long

USAGE SUMMARY

"until long" is not a correct phrase.
A more common phrase is "until quite recently" or "until recently". For example: I hadn't seen my grandmother since childhood, until quite recently.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

All these symbols persisted until long after printing became common.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He didn't speak to me about it until long afterward.

The New Yorker

With his family, he plucked potatoes until long after sundown.

The New York Times

Traffic was gridlocked in Northern Virginia until long past midnight.

The New York Times

She didn't read the book until long after its publication.

The Guardian - Books

Delaying the release until long after his death is indefensible.

The Guardian

In fact, it did not surface publicly until long after Mr. Kiriakou was charged.

The New York Times

"With film, you don't know what it is until long after it is," Mr. Chalfant said.

The New York Times

Poetry: "I'm saying that in some cases / the inside persists until long after it doesn't".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Until long-term studies are done, we won't know for sure.

The New York Times - Magazine

But until long-distance transport was invented, few people would have come across members of other races.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "until long" appears frequently, consider using more grammatically sound alternatives such as "until much later" or "not until a considerable period" for enhanced clarity and precision.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "until long" due to its grammatical ambiguity. Explore alternative phrases that clearly convey the intended meaning, ensuring correctness and improving communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until long" functions as a prepositional phrase, often indicating a point in time after a considerable duration or event. Despite its common usage, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect, suggesting that more precise alternatives should be preferred for clarity and accuracy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "until long" appears frequently across various sources, it is flagged as grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to denote a time duration before an event or realization, commonly found in news and media contexts. However, for enhanced clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's advisable to consider using alternatives like "until much later" or "not until a considerable period". Although the phrase is common, particularly in journalism, opting for more precise language improves overall communication and avoids potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until a long time

Emphasizes the duration of time involved before something happens.

not until much later

Highlights the delay or postponement of an event or realization.

only after a considerable period

Focuses on the substantial length of time that passes.

not before a significant duration

Stresses that a notable amount of time must elapse first.

delayed until far into the future

Implies a substantial postponement to a distant point in time.

until well after

Indicates a point in time significantly later than a reference event.

not until a distant date

Specifies that something will not happen until a far-off point in time.

only after a great while

Emphasizes the extensive passage of time before an event.

not until a later stage

Indicates that something will occur at a more advanced point in time.

postponed until a distant time

Focuses on the act of delaying something to a far-off moment.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to express the same idea as "until long"?

You can use alternatives such as "until much later", "not until a considerable period", or "only after a long time" depending on the context.

Is "until long" considered grammatically correct in formal writing?

No, "until long" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. While it appears in some publications, it's advisable to use more standard alternatives, especially in formal writing.

How can I improve the clarity of sentences using "until long"?

Replace "until long" with clearer phrases like "until a much later time" or "only after a significant delay" to avoid ambiguity and enhance understanding.

What's the difference between "until long" and "until much later"?

"Until much later" is a grammatically standard phrase, while "until long" is often considered incorrect. The former is clearer and more precise in conveying a delay or postponement compared to the latter.