a second away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a second away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is very close in time or proximity, often implying that it will happen imminently. Example: "The train is just a second away from arriving at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Alex Coomber meanwhile was ' only 0.22 of a second away'.

The Guardian - Sport

'He must have been a second away from killing her.

The Guardian

With smartphones you are never more than a second away from an email.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is not an approach we can get away with today, when every reader is half a second away from doing 34,000 other things.

The New York Times - Books

Carvalhal, the Wednesday managerwas full of praise for the front two Forestieri and Hooper following a second away win of the season which boosts their own promotion aspirations.

The Guardian - Sport

Once we understand the Higgs boson well, we will get back to less than a billionth of a second away from the Big Bang, and the answers to these questions, involving dark matter and neutrinos, may become clear.

University of California, Berkeley

The Scotland striker, who looks likely to be the subject of interest in next month's transfer window, struck in the second half to earn Rovers a second away win of the season and end Yeovil's four-match unbeaten run.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

At the bottom Fulham eased the pressure on Mark Hughes with a first away win in 27 attempts.

Independent

Jolie now professes to save a third of her income, live on a third and give a third away.

The Guardian - Film

It was only their second on any pitch, with a first away 0-0 the previous season against Nottingham Forest.

The Guardian - Sport

United are fourth after beating Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday, a first away win of the season for Louis van Gaal.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a second away" to create a sense of urgency or anticipation in your writing. It's effective when describing a near-miss, an impending event, or a close finish.

Common error

Avoid using "a second away" in contexts where precise time measurements are crucial. For scientific or technical writing, use more accurate units like milliseconds or specific time intervals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a second away" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or adjectives to indicate nearness in time or proximity. Ludwig AI confirms its usage and provides real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

13%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a second away" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey nearness in time or proximity. As Ludwig AI points out, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to create a sense of urgency or anticipation. While versatile, it's best to avoid it in situations requiring precise time measurements, opting for more specific units. Alternatives such as "almost immediately" or "on the verge of" can provide similar meaning depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about to happen

Directly states that an event is expected to occur very soon.

almost immediately

Indicates a near instantaneous action or event, emphasizing immediacy.

on the verge of

Highlights the imminence of an event or state, suggesting a tipping point.

just around the corner

Refers to something that is very close in proximity or time, implying anticipation.

close at hand

Implies something is conveniently near and available.

momentarily

Indicates that something will happen very shortly.

in a heartbeat

Emphasizes the speed and ease with which something can occur.

in the blink of an eye

Similar to "in a heartbeat", it highlights the rapidity of an event.

within reach

Indicates that a goal or achievement is close to being attained.

at your fingertips

Suggests something is readily and easily accessible.

FAQs

How can I use "a second away" in a sentence?

You can use "a second away" to describe something that is about to happen or is very close. For example, "The runner was only "a second away" from breaking the record".

What's a good alternative to "a second away"?

Alternatives include "almost immediately", "just around the corner", or "on the verge of", depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "a second away" in formal writing?

While "a second away" is generally acceptable, consider more precise language for formal or technical writing. For instance, instead of saying "The breakthrough was "a second away"", you could say "The breakthrough was imminent".

What does "a second away" imply?

"A second away" implies that something is very close in time or proximity, often suggesting that it will happen imminently. It's not meant to be taken as a literal, precise measurement of time.