long account: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Literary
Quick answer
What does “long account” mean?
A detailed narrative or explanation of events, often lengthy and comprehensive.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A detailed narrative or explanation of events, often lengthy and comprehensive.
A financial record or statement covering an extended period; a lengthy justification or excuse; a detailed report requiring considerable time to read or hear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Account' is slightly more formal in general British use. The collocation 'to give a long account of' is marginally more common in UK English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it can imply tediousness if unwanted, or valued detail if contextually appropriate.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in written and formal spoken contexts in both regions. Slightly higher in UK legal and historical narratives.
Grammar
How to Use “long account” in a Sentence
[Subject] gave/provided/wrote a long account of [Event/Period] to [Recipient].A long account of [Event/Period] was [verb, e.g., presented, submitted].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “long account” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He will long account for his actions before the committee. (rare, archaic)
American English
- The CFO must long-account the depreciation over a decade. (rare, technical)
adjective
British English
- The long-account ledger is in the archives. (hyphenated compound adjective)
American English
- She reviewed the long account books from the previous century.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a detailed financial statement for a multi-year period or a comprehensive project post-mortem.
Academic
Used for a thorough historiographical narrative or a detailed methodological explanation in a thesis.
Everyday
Often used humorously or critically: 'Do I have to listen to your long account of what happened at the supermarket?'
Technical
In computing, can refer to a verbose log file or audit trail.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “long account”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “long account”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “long account”
- Using 'long story' interchangeably in formal contexts (it's more colloquial). Confusing with 'old account' (temporal vs. aged). Incorrect preposition: 'a long account *on* the war' (use 'of' or 'about').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can imply tediousness, in contexts like history, law, or finance, it denotes valued thoroughness and comprehensiveness.
Extremely rarely and archaically. In modern English, 'account' is the verb, and 'long' modifies the noun 'account'.
'A long account' is more formal and structured, implying a factual or detailed report. 'A long story' is more colloquial, often personal, and can imply unnecessary detail or a preamble to a conclusion.
Use positive qualifiers: 'a fascinating long account', 'an invaluable long account'. Ensure the context clearly values detail.
A detailed narrative or explanation of events, often lengthy and comprehensive.
Long account is usually formal, business, literary in register.
Long account: in British English it is pronounced /lɒŋ əˈkaʊnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /lɔːŋ əˈkaʊnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To settle a long account (figurative: to finally resolve a longstanding issue or grievance).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very LONG scroll (the account) being unrolled to tell a story. The longer the scroll, the more detailed the account.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/INFORMATION IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT OF LENGTH (a long text, a lengthy speech). TIME IS SPACE (an account covering a long period).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'a long account' most precisely refers to: