the whole night long

[Will17]

Hello there!

Is "long" necessary in this sentence, please?

"I left the oven on the whole night (long)".

Thank you
Will

[JohnParis]

No, it is not necessary.

John

[birdeen's call]

I'm not sure it's correct. I would use one of the following three:

I left the oven on for the whole night.
The oven was on the whole night.
The oven was on the whole night long.

But as I said, I'm not sure about your sentence. Since JohnParis didn't object, it's probably fine.

[JohnParis]

I'm not sure it's correct. I would use one of the following three:

I left the oven on for the whole night.

I completely understand your problem with the absence of the word "for". Yet, the expression "I left the oven on" has become an idiom and native speakers know that you did not leave the oven "on something" but rather you left the gas or electricity on and continued to heat the appliance throughout the night. It would be solidly correct to include the word "for", but just as acceptable not to use it.

John

[bhaisahab]

Hello there!

Is "long" necessary in this sentence, please?

"I left the oven on the whole night (long)".

Thank you
Will

I would say "I left the oven on all night".