A long way

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "A long way" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a significant distance or a considerable amount of effort or progress. Example: "We still have a long way to go before we reach our destination." Alternative expressions include "a great distance" and "a considerable way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Long Way Down.

The Economist

A long way indeed.

The New York Times

A long way from Tbilisi.

Forbes

"A long way to go".

The New York Times

By a long way.

Independent

It's a long way.

The New York Times

That's a long way off.

The New York Times

"We've come a long way.

The New York Times

Oregon's a long way away".

The New Yorker

'It is a long way.

The Guardian

It goes a long way".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing progress, use "a long way" to emphasize the extent of development or change over time. For example, "The technology has come "a long way" since its inception".

Common error

Avoid using "a long way" only for physical distances; it also describes progress, change, or differences over time. Instead of saying "The store is "a long way" from here, so the business is improving" consider saying "The store is "a long way" from here, but the business has improved considerably".

Linguistic Context

"A long way" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase or part of a predicative expression indicating distance, progress, or extent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to express that something is far in distance or that significant progress has been made. Examples show its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A long way" is a versatile phrase primarily used to denote significant distance or progress. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news, media, and informal contexts such as Wiki. The linguistic analysis shows it functions adverbially or as part of a predicate, serving to emphasize the extent of progress or physical distance. To vary your language, consider using alternatives like "a considerable distance" or "much progress", based on the intended meaning. When writing, remember that ""a long way"" isn't just for physical distances; it describes the extent of change or development. The phrase’s adaptability makes it useful across both formal and informal writing, yet it's crucial to ensure the context aligns with your intended message to prevent any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

A considerable distance

Replaces "long" with "considerable", emphasizing the extent of the distance.

A significant distance

Uses "significant" instead of "long" to highlight the importance of the distance.

A great distance

Substitutes "long" with "great", suggesting a notable extent.

Far off

A shorter, more informal way to express that something is distant in space or time.

A substantial distance

Employs "substantial" to underscore the largeness of the distance.

A good distance

Uses "good" to indicate a noteworthy, though possibly subjective, distance.

A lengthy journey

Focuses on the act of traveling over a "long way", changing the noun.

A considerable journey

Replace "lengthy" with "considerable" in a journey.

Much progress

Shifts the focus to progress made, rather than physical distance.

Considerable progress

Emphasizes the substantial nature of the progress achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "A long way" in a sentence?

You can use "A long way" to describe a significant distance, for example, "It's "a long way" to the nearest gas station". You can also use it to express progress or change over time, such as, "We have come "a long way" since we started this project".

What are some alternatives to saying "A long way"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "a considerable distance", "a great distance", or "far off" to describe physical distance. To describe progress, you could use "much progress" or "considerable progress".

Is it correct to use "A long way" to describe abstract concepts?

Yes, "A long way" can be used to describe abstract concepts like progress, change, or improvement. For example, "We still have "a long way" to go before achieving our goals".

What is the difference between "A long way" and "a lengthy journey"?

"A long way" is a more general phrase that can refer to both distance and progress. "A lengthy journey" specifically refers to a trip or travel that takes a significant amount of time or covers a great distance.