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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Longer and shorter in this context?

Is it correct to use "longer"? Longer sounds ok to me but the opposite "shorter" doesn't sound correct or am I mistaken? Is the sentence just incorrect to begin with?

Sometimes the light stays on longer sometimes shorter.

Thank you
  

Top answer

It looks kind of wrong to me. I'd probably write it like this instead: The time for which the light stays on varies . It has the same meaning.

— Photonic Speed

  • It looks kind of wrong to me.
  • I'd probably write it like this instead: The time for which the light stays on varies .
  • It has the same meaning.
  • At least that's what I think.
  • I don't actually know whether or not what I wrote is gramatically correct, so please correct me if I'm wrong!
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3 Answers
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It looks kind of wrong to me.

I'd probably write it like this instead: The time for which the light stays on varies. It has the same meaning. At least that's what I think.

I don't actually know whether or not what I wrote is gramatically correct, so please correct me if I'm wrong!
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What you have written works. The context in which it was being used would be helpful in deciding if perhaps a more formal response is in order. If two blue collar bros are discussing it with time on their hands your version is perfect. If you were discussing this in a situation where time was of the essence an economic use of words is better suited: "The time when the light is off or on varies."
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AnonymousSometimes the light stays on longer sometimes shorter.
Sometimes the light stays on longer, and sometimes it doesn't.
Sometimes the light stays on longer, and sometimes it turns off sooner.
Sometimes the light stays on for a long(er) time, and sometimes it only stays on for a short(er) time.

CJ
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