Long Lasting vs. Long-Lasting – Which is Correct?
Both “long lasting” and “long-lasting” are correct, but their placement differs. Use “long-lasting” as a compound adjective before a noun: “long-lasting batteries.” Use “long lasting” after a linking verb or when the words function as an ordinary adjective phrase: “The batteries are long lasting.” Hyphenation often improves clarity before nouns.
Long Lasting or Long-Lasting – Which Is Correct?
Both long lasting and long-lasting are correct in American English. The difference is grammatical position, not meaning. Use long-lasting when the two words work together as a compound adjective directly before a noun. Use long lasting when the phrase follows a linking verb such as is, seems, or remains.
For example, write “a long-lasting battery” but “the battery is long lasting.” The hyphen shows that long and lasting form one modifier for the noun that follows.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the before-or-after test: if the phrase comes before a noun, hyphenate it; if it comes after a linking verb, leave it open. Compare “a long-lasting product” with “the product is long lasting.” The meaning stays the same, but the hyphen makes the compound modifier easier to read.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| long lasting | Adjective phrase | Continuing for a long time, usually after a linking verb | The effects are long lasting. |
| long-lasting | Compound adjective | Continuing for a long time and modifying a following noun | She chose a long-lasting fragrance. |
How to Use Long Lasting
Long lasting is an adjective phrase that describes something that continues, remains effective, or stays in good condition for an extended period. It commonly appears after a linking verb, including be, seem, remain, and feel. This open form is natural in both casual and formal writing when it follows the noun it describes.
When the phrase appears after a noun, no hyphen is generally needed because the grammatical relationship is already clear. The phrase can describe products, effects, memories, relationships, changes, and many other things.
Example 1: The new coating is long lasting and resistant to heat.
Example 2: The team hopes the agreement will be long lasting.
Example 3: Her impression of the performance was long lasting.
Etymology of the Word Long Lasting
Long lasting combines long, from Old English lang, meaning extended in distance or time, with lasting, the present participle of last. The verb last comes from Old English læstan, meaning to continue or endure. The open phrase developed naturally from these ordinary English words.
How to Use Long-Lasting
Long-lasting is a hyphenated compound adjective. Use it before a noun when long and lasting work together as one descriptive unit. The hyphen prevents readers from interpreting the words separately and is especially useful in product descriptions, technical writing, advertising, and formal prose.
Use the hyphen when the phrase directly modifies a noun, but usually remove it when the phrase follows a linking verb. For example, write “long-lasting comfort” and “the comfort is long lasting.”
Example 1: The manufacturer offers a long-lasting solution for outdoor surfaces.
Example 2: We packed long-lasting snacks for the hiking trip.
Example 3: The treatment provides long-lasting relief.
Etymology of the Word Long-Lasting
Long-lasting has the same word origins as long lasting. The hyphenated form emerged as English writing increasingly used compound modifiers before nouns. The hyphen does not change the pronunciation or basic meaning; it signals that the two words function together as a single adjective.
Related Concepts
Understanding compound modifiers and linking verbs makes it easier to choose between the open and hyphenated forms of this phrase.
- Compound adjectives: Two or more words can combine to modify one noun. Hyphens often clarify this relationship when the compound adjective comes before the noun, as in “long-lasting materials.”
- Linking verbs: Verbs such as is, seems, and remains connect a subject with a description. After a linking verb, the phrase is generally written open: “The material remains long lasting.”
- Attributive adjectives: An adjective used before a noun is attributive. The phrase “long-lasting” is attributive in “long-lasting equipment.”
- Predicate adjectives: An adjective used after a linking verb is predicative. The phrase “long lasting” is predicative in “The equipment is long lasting.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how professional and creative writing can use the phrase in different contexts:
- Product journalism: A review may describe a phone as having “long-lasting battery life” when the phrase comes before the noun.
- Advertising: A skincare advertisement may promote “long-lasting moisture” or “long-lasting protection.”
- News writing: A report might state that the policy’s effects are “long lasting” when the phrase follows the verb are.
- Travel writing: A guide may recommend “long-lasting walking shoes” for extended trips.
- Literary description: A narrator might explain that a childhood memory remained “long lasting,” using the open form after a linking verb.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct form to complete each sentence: long lasting or long-lasting.
- The company introduced a ______ battery for its newest camera.
- The results of the training were ______.
- These shoes are designed for ______ comfort.
- The friendship remained ______ despite the distance.
- Choose a ______ paint for the exterior walls.
Answer Key
- long-lasting — It comes before the noun battery.
- long lasting — It follows the linking verb were.
- long-lasting — It comes before the noun comfort.
- long lasting — It follows the linking verb remained.
- long-lasting — It comes before the noun paint.
Long Lasting Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Durable | Able to withstand use, pressure, or damage over time |
| Enduring | Continuing for a long time, often despite difficulty |
| Persistent | Continuing without stopping or disappearing |
| Permanent | Intended or expected to remain indefinitely |
| Sustained | Maintained continuously over a period of time |
Long-Lasting Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Long-term | Continuing over an extended period |
| Hard-wearing | Able to resist wear and remain usable |
| Sturdy | Strongly built and unlikely to break |
| Resilient | Able to recover or continue functioning after difficulty or damage |
| Lasting | Continuing for a considerable amount of time |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “long lasting” one word?
No. The standard forms are long lasting as an open phrase and long-lasting as a hyphenated compound adjective. Writing “longlasting” as one word is generally incorrect.
Question 2: Should I write “long-lasting effect” or “long lasting effect”?
Write long-lasting effect. The compound adjective comes directly before the noun effect, so the hyphen clarifies that long and lasting modify the noun together.
Question 3: Is “long lasting” correct after “is”?
Yes. Write “The effect is long lasting.” Because the phrase follows the linking verb is, it is usually left open.
Question 4: Do style guides always require the hyphen?
Hyphenation practices can vary slightly among style guides, but the before-or-after rule is widely accepted. Hyphenate the phrase before a noun when it functions as a compound modifier, and usually leave it open after a linking verb.
Conclusion
Long lasting and long-lasting are both correct. Use long-lasting before a noun, as in “long-lasting results,” and use long lasting after a linking verb, as in “the results are long lasting.” Pro Tip: Consistent hyphenation demonstrates attention to detail and helps protect your professional reputation in business, academic, and published writing.
