Vague long durations ('for years', 'over the long term')
Long-duration shorthand that obscures specifics the reader needs to act on.
What ProfText flags
Unscoped long-term reference. Impossible to verify or track.
Phrases this rule catches
- in the long run
- over time
- in due course
- eventually
- in the future
How to fix it
Add timeline: 'within 18 months' or 'by end of 2026'.
Why this matters
'Over the long term', 'for many years', 'historically' all signal that the author has a specific timespan in mind but does not want to commit to it. Sometimes that's editorial restraint; more often it's vagueness that hides weak claims. State the range ('between 2010 and 2024', 'over the past decade') and let the reader judge significance for themselves.
Languages
Detection pattern
\b(in\s+the\s+long\s+run|over\s+time|in\s+due\s+course|eventually|in\s+the\s+future)\b
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