a distant association

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distant association" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a relationship or connection that is not close or direct, often implying a weak or indirect link between two entities. Example: "While they share a distant association through their mutual friend, they have never met in person."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Three of the isolates (PNI676, PNI0108 and PNC12026) subjected to phylogenomic analysis showed a distant association with all the other isolates.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It would be a very loose, distant association".

Huffington Post

It's like a ripple effect where people become dope by the most distant association to Aaliyah as part of her fandom.

Vice

Two additional samples, SG_MG_Nlas_8 from N. lasiurus in São Gotardo, Minas Gerais State (Central Plateau), and CX_RS_Hsp_22 from a human case in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul (southern region), appeared to have some distant association with ARAV, JUQV, and Oran hantavirus, which are associated with O. longicaudatus from subtropical Oran Department in Argentina.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

And in the third, for each exon we selected its best eQTL and kept the cases where the SNP was the best mQTL for a methylation site; not requiring significance for the eQTM, which would enrich for the INDEP model since the eQTM is the most distant association (n = 413, 726, 775, in F, L, T).

eLife

In the second dataset, for each exon we selected its best eQTL and its best eQTM; not requiring significance for the mQTL (n = 287, 1316 and 871 in F, L, T), which would enrich for the SEM model since the mQTL is the most distant association.

eLife

In the first dataset we selected the best eQTM and for that methylation site the best mQTL, not requiring statistical significance for the eQTL (n = 219, 1074 and 1128 in fibroblasts [F], LCLs [L], and T-cells [T], respectively), which would enrich for the SME model since the eQTL is the most distant association.

eLife

Then things started to happen — a slowly unfolding series of events routing him through Europe, distant associations with hip-hop and house music, a false start on a once-great jazz label and his current rehabilitation on another one.

The New York Times - Arts

These distant associations have been observed in other studies2,12.

Nature

This finding suggests that the production of emotional words requires more capacity and/or more distant associations from the neural systems needed for the production of neutral or happy word.

Brain Informatics

In other pieces, Reaboi defended the fringe theory that Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin risked U.S. national security because of distant associations with Islamists, attacked Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz). and others defending Abedin, and warned of leftist support for Shariah law.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a distant association" to accurately convey a weak or indirect connection, ensuring the context clarifies the nature and limitations of the relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "a distant association" when the relationship is strong or direct, as this can mislead the reader about the true nature of the link.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distant association" functions as a noun phrase, where 'distant' modifies 'association'. According to Ludwig, it describes a relationship that is not close or direct. Examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in scientific, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a distant association" accurately describes a connection that is weak or indirect. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent application in scientific and news-related discussions. When using the phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects the degree of the relationship and avoid overstating its significance. Alternatives like "a tenuous link" or "a loose connection" offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a loose connection

Emphasizes the weakness or tenuous nature of the link.

a tenuous link

Highlights the fragility and uncertainty of the connection.

a remote relationship

Stresses the spatial or metaphorical distance between the related entities.

an indirect correlation

Focuses on the lack of a direct or causal relationship.

a slight affiliation

Indicates a minimal or superficial connection.

a negligible association

Suggests that the connection is so small as to be unimportant.

a weak tie

Highlights the insubstantial and easily broken nature of the connection.

a superficial connection

Indicates a lack of depth or meaningful interaction.

a passing acquaintance

Emphasizes the fleeting and insubstantial nature of the relationship.

no discernible link

Asserts the absence of any clear or demonstrable connection.

FAQs

How can I use "a distant association" in a sentence?

You can use "a distant association" to describe a relationship or connection that is not close or direct. For example: "The two companies have "a distant association" through a shared investor."

What is an alternative to "a distant association"?

Alternatives to "a distant association" include "a tenuous link", "a loose connection", or "a remote relationship", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a distant association" in formal writing?

Yes, "a distant association" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to accurately describe a connection that is weak or indirect.

What's the difference between "a distant association" and "a close association"?

"A distant association" implies a weak, indirect link, while "a close association" suggests a strong, direct, and significant relationship.