a certain distance away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a certain distance away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an unspecified or approximate distance from a particular point or location. Example: "The house is located a certain distance away from the main road, providing a sense of privacy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

If binding occurs, the enzyme cuts the DNA a certain distance away, exposing new sticky ends.

The New York Times

The rules are very strict about keep a certain distance away and not looking directly at the prisoners.

The New Yorker

But to flood its surface with light, the lens has to be big and be a certain distance away.

The New York Times - Tech

For example, Mr. Trang said, it is not uncommon for decks built without a permit to violate zoning code provisions that require the deck to be a certain distance away from the side and rear property lines.

The New York Times

Many states and municipalities have tried to enact restrictions on where sex offenders can live, including keeping them a certain distance away from parks, playgrounds and even bus stops, with mixed results.

The New York Times

Other features include a "virtual leash," so you're alerted when something moves a certain distance away.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

However, the uplink throughput in co-channel spectrum usage becomes larger than that in dedicated spectrum usage (i.e., C m ul, co-channel > C m ul, dedicated ) when the HeNB is located at certain distance away from the embedding eNB.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The interference at a certain distance r away from the origin (0<r≤R C) is obtained by averaging over all angle positions between −π and π.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Fig. 7 Average interference power [W] as experience at a certain distance r away from the desired transmitter for the cities of London (a) and Manchester (b) and various abstraction models.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

With a measurement system established, the MMs EM characteristics, which are represented by the amounts of EM waves absorbed and controlled by MMs, can be measured by generating EM waves from the antenna and comparing the differences between when there is a MM absorber and when there is no MM absorber at a location which is a certain distance (far-field) away from the source of the EM waves.

Measurement

It will be moved away to a certain distance from the working face in order to protect the platform when blasting.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a certain distance away", ensure the context makes clear what the reference point for the distance is. For example, "The house is located a certain distance away from the city center."

Common error

Avoid using "a certain distance away" without providing any reference point or scale. Saying "Keep a certain distance away" is less effective than "Keep a certain distance away from the machinery" or "Keep about 10 feet away".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a certain distance away" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate spatial separation without specifying an exact measurement. Ludwig AI suggests it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

41%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a certain distance away" serves as a versatile adverbial phrase indicating spatial separation without precise measurement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly used in both scientific and news contexts to convey approximation or indefiniteness in distance. While alternatives like "some distance away" or "a specified distance away" exist, the best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to provide context for the reference point to avoid ambiguity. Use in contexts such as "The femtocell is located at a certain distance away from eNB" or "Keep a certain distance away from the restricted area".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

some distance away

Indicates a nonspecific distance, similar to the original phrase but using "some" for a more general sense.

a specified distance away

Implies the distance is predetermined or defined, adding a layer of precision.

a particular distance away

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the specific nature of the distance.

a set distance away

Suggests the distance has been pre-arranged or fixed.

a given distance away

Implies the distance has been provided or established beforehand.

at a remove

Uses a more figurative expression, indicating separation without specifying a concrete distance.

at arm's length

Suggests a distance intended to maintain separation or caution, usually in a social context.

in the distance

Indicates something is far off but doesn't quantify the exact separation.

a ways off

An informal expression meaning "some distance away", often used colloquially.

out of range

Denotes being beyond a specified limit or reach, implying a functional separation.

FAQs

How can I use "a certain distance away" in a sentence?

You can use "a certain distance away" to describe an object's position relative to another, without specifying an exact measurement. For example, "The sensor detects movement at "a certain distance away" from the device".

What is a good alternative to "a certain distance away"?

Depending on the context, you might use "some distance away", "a specified distance away", or "a particular distance away".

Is it better to use "a specific distance away" instead of "a certain distance away"?

While both are grammatically correct, "a specific distance away" implies a known and precise measurement, whereas "a certain distance away" suggests an approximate or unspecified amount of separation.

How does the meaning of "a short distance away" differ from "a certain distance away"?

"A short distance away" indicates proximity, meaning the object is nearby. "A certain distance away" simply indicates separation without conveying closeness, so it does not imply that the objects are near to one another.