Common Mistakes : Lengthen

Lengthen – Verb

BAD: The question is whether doctors should lengthen life when there is no hope of recovery

GOOD: The question is whether doctors should prolong life when there is no hope of recovery

Lengthen = make something longer; become longer: ‘We can use the old curtains, but they’ll have to be lengthened.’ As evening fell, the shadows lengthened

Prolong = prevent a feeling, activity or life from ending: He asked her another question just to prolong the conversation