very lengthy

USAGE SUMMARY

"very lengthy" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about things that are longer than usual, such as processes or documents. For example, "Writing the report was a very lengthy process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Very lengthy comments will be truncated.

Harvard University

My office overlooked a very lengthy dole queue.

The Guardian

Lees' rational method of aggregate grading, however, is a very lengthy and time-consuming procedure.

Construction and Building Materials

I was seeking this certain information for a very lengthy time.

Harvard University

Health-care reform is coming, but it is going to be a very lengthy process.

The New Yorker

"It's a very lengthy process and it's a very thorough process, I would say".

The Guardian

"After the tragedy, it was very lengthy," he said, referring to the wait at the border.

The New York Times

He criticized her brief in one case as "a very lengthy brief filled with emotion".

The New York Times

"It was a very lengthy process to get the role," Bomer said.

The Guardian - Film

However, this push in resolution comes at a cost of a large encoding burden leading to very lengthy scans.

NeuroImage

Furthermore, deep excavation geotechnical models tend to be computationally very expensive making the inverse analysis a very lengthy process.

Computers & Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or tasks, consider if "very lengthy" is the most precise term. Sometimes, specifying why something is lengthy (e.g., "very detailed", "multi-stage") adds clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "very lengthy" as a catch-all phrase. While grammatically sound, it lacks specificity. Replace it with terms that detail the cause of the length, such as "complex", "detailed", or "multi-faceted" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very lengthy" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase, intensifying the adjective 'lengthy'. It describes a noun, indicating that something is of considerable duration or extent, as seen in Ludwig's examples from news articles, scientific papers, and academic texts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very lengthy" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase used to describe something that is considerably long in duration or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Academia. While its usage is widespread, consider using more specific descriptors to enhance clarity, detailing why the subject is lengthy. Related phrases include "quite lengthy", "extremely lengthy", and "considerably long". By understanding its function and potential alternatives, you can effectively use "very lengthy" to improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite lengthy

Replaces "very" with "quite", softening the emphasis slightly.

extremely lengthy

Substitutes "very" with "extremely", intensifying the emphasis on the length.

considerably long

Uses "considerably long" to express a significant duration.

appreciably long

Emphasizes that the duration is noticeably long.

remarkably extended

Uses "remarkably extended" to highlight the unusual duration.

particularly protracted

Replaces "lengthy" with "protracted", suggesting a drawn-out process.

unusually prolonged

Indicates the duration is longer than typically expected.

exceptionally extensive

Uses "exceptionally extensive" to convey a notably large scope or duration.

remarkably time-consuming

Focuses on the aspect of time required, rather than just the length.

significantly elongated

Suggests something has been made longer than it originally was.

FAQs

How can I use "very lengthy" in a sentence?

You can use "very lengthy" to describe anything that takes a considerable amount of time or has a great extent. For example, "The application process was "very lengthy"" or "The document was a "very lengthy" one".

What can I say instead of "very lengthy"?

You can use alternatives like "quite lengthy", "extremely lengthy", or "considerably long" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "very lengthy" or "extremely long"?

Both "very lengthy" and "extremely long" are correct, but ""very lengthy"" often implies complexity or detail in addition to just duration, while "extremely long" focuses more on the duration itself.

How formal is the phrase "very lengthy"?

The phrase ""very lengthy"" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in more formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives to better convey the specific reason for the length, making your writing more descriptive and impactful.