how to write an extended dim and cresc (text, not hairpins) , like a trillSpan?

[Kenneth Wolcott]

Hi;

How to write an extended dim and cresc (text, not hairpins) ,like a trillSpan?

I have attached screenshots of the original music I am transcribing
from to show what I am trying to engrave.

I have the following macros defined:

cresc = _\markup \italic "cresc."
dimin = _\markup \italic "dimin."

I tried adding a dash to the end of the quoted text in each macro.  I
got an error that there was no terminating of the macro (I don't
remember the text text of the error message).

Where do I look in the manual for this long extension (span?) of the
expressive mark?

Thanks,
Ken Wolcott

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Screen Shot 2021-08-07 at 14.09.24.png
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