Page 342 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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Little is not normally used to modify other adjectives or adverbs. It's not very interesting. (NOT {t'S littl£ intel'€sfing.)
A little can be used, like a bit (see 107), before adjectives and adverbs with a critical or negative meaning.
You must forgive her - she's a little confused.
They arrived a little late.
Note also the expression little known.
He's studying the work ofa little known German novelist. For less and fewer. see 320.
For the adjective little. see 534.
long and (for) a long time long in questions and negatives
Long (meaning '(for) a long time') is most common in questions and negative clauses, and with restrictive words like hardly, seldom.
Have you been waiting long?
It doesn't take long to get to her house. She seldom stays long.
(for) a long time in affirmative clauses
In affirmative clauses we usually prefer (for) a long time.
I waited (for) a long time, but she didn't arrive. (NOT .. ltItlited kmg . ..) It takes a long time to get to her house. (NOT It ftlkes kJllg .. .)
long in affirmative clauses
However, long is used in affirmative clauses with too, enough, as and so, and in a few other common expressions.
The meeting went on much too long.
I've been working here long enough. Time to get a new job. You can stay as long as you want.
Sorry I took so long. I'll be back before long.
She sits dreaming all day long. (also all night/week/year long)
Long is also used in affirmative clauses to modify adverbs and conjunctions. We used to live in Paris, but that was long before you were born.
Long after the accident he used to dream that he was dying.
Long ago, in a distant country, there lived a beautiful princess.
(rather formal)
for a long time in negative clauses
When for a long time is used in a negative clause, it sometimes has a different meaning from for long. Compare:
- She didn't speak for long. (= She only spoke for a short time.)
She didn't speak for a long time. (= She was silent for a long time.)
- He didn't work for long. (= He soon stopped working.)
He didn't work for a long time. (= He was unemployed for a long time.) The reason for the difference is to do with the 'scope of negation': in the first and third sentences, not goes with for long, but in the second and fourth for a long time is outside the influence of not (it could go at the beginning of the clause).
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