a distance of which

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distance of which" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to a specific distance in a more formal or technical context, but it is often better to rephrase for clarity. Example: "The measurements indicated a distance of which we were previously unaware."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

That instantaneous link is the "spooky action at a distance" of which Einstein was so skeptical.

The New Yorker

No, the history of the 20th century – and now the 21st – is replete with examples of technologies that were developed purely in order to facilitate the killing of people at a distance, of which the internet is only the most egregious example.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The conduction electron will travel a distance of l (which is known as the mean free path) unless it is scattered by the surface of the material.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The nasopharynx was measured as a distance of line which was the most posterior point of the soft palate (PSP) to posterior pharyngeal wall (PPW) and parallel with FHL.

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

To avoid a distance of zero, which would result in Equation 2 being undefined, we add a constant to the standard taxicab distance.

G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

Using intact scores, Bay and Estland showed a distance of 0.04 which was one of the smallest distances after Niederzenz and Ler (-0.04).

BMC Plant Biology

A TRI facility located in a census tract or on the boundary of the census tract was assigned a distance of 0 which means that the census tract 'hosts' the TRI facility.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

All three peptides share a strong meridional reflection, the distance of which varies between 4.66 and 4.76 Å (Supplementary Table S3), arising from the separation between hydrogen-bonded β-strands along the fibre axis.

Biochemical Journal

We find a single energy barrier at a distance of ∼0.3 nm, which corresponds to the final desolvation transition.

Journal of Structural Biology

The waiting time is the equivalent of sound traveling a distance of 1.49 m, which means that it gave us a range of approximately 70 cm.

Cornell University

On average, Y ions in α-Al2O3 grain boundaries are coordinated by four oxygens, at a distance of 2.30 Å, which corresponds nearly to the Y O bond length in cubic Y2O3, and Zr ions are coordinated by five oxygens at a distance of 2.14 Å, which is approximately the same as the average Zr–O bond length in monoclinic ZrO2.

Acta Materialia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a distance of which", ensure the context is formal or technical, as it may sound unnatural in everyday conversation. Simplify to "a distance that" or "a distance of" for better readability.

Common error

Avoid using "a distance of which" in informal contexts. It can make your writing sound stilted or overly academic. Opt for simpler alternatives like "the distance that" or rewriting the sentence for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distance of which" functions as a relative clause specifying a particular measurement. While grammatically correct, Ludwig AI suggests it is not commonly used and can sound awkward. It often modifies a noun by providing additional information about a spatial separation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distance of which" is a grammatically acceptable but infrequently used phrase for specifying a measurement, as per Ludwig AI. It is most appropriate in formal or technical writing, particularly within scientific or academic contexts. Simpler alternatives like "the distance that" or "the distance of" are generally preferred for better readability and flow. While the phrase is correct, its formal tone might make it sound awkward in everyday conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the distance that

This alternative replaces the relative pronoun "which" with "that", resulting in a more direct and commonly used construction.

the distance of

This simplifies the phrase by removing "which", focusing on the measurement itself.

the length of which

Replaces "distance" with "length", suitable when referring to a one-dimensional measurement.

the range of which

Substitutes "distance" with "range", appropriate when indicating a span between two points.

the extent of which

Uses "extent" instead of "distance", suitable for more abstract or non-physical distances.

the separation that

Replaces "distance" with "separation", emphasizing the act of being apart.

the measure of which

Replaces "distance" with "measure", focusing on the quantification aspect.

the space that

Uses "space" instead of "distance", suitable when referring to a general area.

at a remove of

This offers a more idiomatic way to express being distant, changing the structure entirely.

how far

Simplifies to a question of spatial measurement, omitting "distance" and "which".

FAQs

How can I use "a distance of which" in a sentence?

Use "a distance of which" to specify a particular measurement in formal writing. For instance, "The experiment measured a distance of which we were previously unaware."

What are some alternatives to "a distance of which"?

You can use alternatives like "the distance that", "the distance of", or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "a distance of which"?

It is most appropriate in formal or technical contexts where precise measurements are being discussed. In general writing, simpler alternatives are preferred.

Is "a distance of which" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it can sound overly formal or awkward. Consider using "the distance that" or "the distance of" for better flow.