a lot further

USAGE SUMMARY

"a lot further" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a greater amount of progress or distance than previously discussed or expected. For example: "The team was able to advance in their project a lot further than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"A lot further".

The New York Times

But it could go a lot further.

The Economist

It had a lot further to fall.

The New York Times

That goes a lot further than basketball.

The New York Times - Sports

She just takes it a lot further.

The Guardian - Film

Certainly, they are flying a lot further.

The New York Times

But this goes a lot further.

The Guardian

"It stretches the dollar a lot further".

The New York Times

Indeed, the political possibilities may go a lot further.

The Guardian - Opinion

A win there would go a lot further.

The New York Times - Sports

And it goes a lot further than competing businesses.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a lot further" to emphasize a significant degree of progress, distance, or advancement beyond a certain point. For impact, consider pairing it with strong verbs.

Common error

While versatile, relying too heavily on "a lot further" can make your writing sound repetitive. Substitute it with more precise alternatives like "significantly more" or "considerably beyond" to enhance clarity and sophistication, especially in formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lot further" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, enhancing the degree to which something extends or progresses. Ludwig AI indicates that is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it modifying verbs, adjectives, and even other adverbs to express a greater extent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a lot further" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate a significant degree of progress, distance, or advancement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable in written English. While particularly prevalent in News & Media, it also finds use in other registers. To enhance writing precision and formality, especially in business or scientific contexts, consider using synonyms like "significantly more" or "considerably beyond". Avoiding overuse will help maintain a sophisticated tone in more formal written communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably ahead

Emphasizes a notable difference in position or progress.

much more advanced

Focuses on progress or development being significantly ahead.

far more developed

Indicates a higher level of maturity or complexity.

markedly greater

Highlights a distinct and significant difference.

significantly beyond

Highlights surpassing a specific limit or expectation to a great extent.

greatly improved

Highlights a substantial positive change or advancement.

substantially distant

Stresses a large separation in terms of distance or achievement.

vastly superior

Emphasizes a considerable advantage or higher quality.

way ahead

Suggests being significantly in front or more advanced, often informally.

noticeably more

Indicates an easily observable difference in quantity or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "a lot further" in a sentence?

You can use "a lot further" to indicate a greater extent of progress, distance, or degree. For example, "The project progressed "a lot further" than anticipated" or "We need to research "a lot further" into this topic".

What are some alternatives to "a lot further"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "significantly more", "considerably beyond", or "substantially distant".

Is it appropriate to use "a lot further" in formal writing?

While "a lot further" is generally acceptable, it can sometimes sound informal. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "much more advanced" or "markedly greater" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "a lot further" and "much further"?

"A lot further" and "much further" are very similar in meaning. However, "a lot further" might be perceived as slightly more informal than "much further". Both indicate a greater degree or distance.