chronic?permanent?long term? + benefit
Dear All,

When I want to say something can benefit people or countries in a very long period, which adj I should use?

chronic/permanent/long term/other?

e.g. the benefit of reading is significant and ...chronic?

I know that chronic is usually used in describing negative things, like chronic disease.

But permanent seems to mean something keep forever, but some time I just want to say long instead of forever.

Any other adj you can suggest?

Best Regards,
Frank

Question

chronic?permanent?long term? + benefit
Dear All,

When I want to say something can benefit people or countries in a very long period, which adj I should use?

chronic/permanent/long term/other?

e.g. the benefit of reading is significant and ...chronic?

I know that chronic is usually used in describing negative things, like chronic disease.

But permanent seems to mean something keep forever, but some time I just want to say long instead of forever.

Any other adj you can suggest?

Best Regards,
Frank

Answer

You're right, "chronic" is used with negative things. It is also usually intermittent. Chronic back pain = pain one day, then no pain the next, then maybe pain the day after, etc. It doesn't happen all the time.

"Permanent" means forever and all the time. Permanent back pain = it happens every day.

For your example, you can say "long term" or "long-lasting".

The benefits of reading are significant and long-lasting.
Reading has significant and long-lasting benefits.

Usually, there is more than one benefit to reading, so I would use the plural: benefits.

Answers · 2

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