a stone's throw from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a stone's throw from" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something is very close or nearby. Example: "The café is just a stone's throw from the library, making it a convenient spot for students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Real Estate

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's literally a stone's throw from the East Side of Manhattan," she said.

The New York Times

It's also a stone's throw from the creative hub of the city — the once slummy, now hip Shoreditch.

The New York Times

It's a bit more than a stone's throw from Harvard Yard.

TechCrunch

Signs a stone's throw from houses caution: "Danger – no smoking".

The Guardian

We're talking just a stone's throw from the Bataclan.

The Guardian

He grew up a stone's throw from the Indian Ocean.

The Guardian

It is a stone's throw from Greece's, and therefore the EU's, border.

The Economist

His shop was situated right in the navel of Zongo Street — a stone's throw from….

The New Yorker

The president's residence is just a stone's throw from those of several of his rivals.

The Economist

Both live in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn, the police said, a stone's throw from the bay.

The New York Times

Clarke, despite being a stone's throw from the Olympic Park, has yet to make it inside.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a stone's throw from" to add a touch of colloquialism to your writing, making it more engaging and relatable.

Common error

While "a stone's throw from" is a vivid expression, avoid using it excessively in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with alternatives like "nearby" or "a short distance from" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

Adjectival phrase. The phrase "a stone's throw from" modifies a noun by indicating proximity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and functions to describe how close something is to another location. Many examples in Ludwig show it describing real estate locations, venues, or landmarks relative to other places.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Travel

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a stone's throw from" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe that something is very close. As Ludwig AI explains, it is typically used to indicate that a place is nearby. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but also in travel writing. While generally considered neutral in register, it adds a slightly informal and relatable tone to writing. For variation, alternatives like "very close to" or "nearby" can be used. To avoid overuse, be mindful and diversify your descriptive language where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very close to

Direct synonym indicating minimal distance.

nearby

Simple and direct way to indicate something is not far.

right next to

Indicates immediate adjacency.

a short distance from

General way to indicate nearness without being specific.

in close proximity to

More formal way of saying something is nearby.

practically adjacent to

Emphasizes that two locations are nearly or actually touching.

just around the corner from

Suggests something is easily accessible and nearby.

a short walk to

Similar to "within walking distance", emphasizing the ease of access.

within walking distance of

Indicates something is close enough to walk to.

a hop, skip, and a jump from

Informal and playful way to say something is very near.

FAQs

How to use "a stone's throw from" in a sentence?

You can use "a stone's throw from" to describe something that is very close or nearby a particular location. For example, "The cafe is "a stone's throw from" the library".

What can I say instead of "a stone's throw from"?

You can use alternatives like "very close to", "nearby", or "a short distance from" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a stone's throw from" or "stones throw from"?

"A stone's throw from" is the correct and idiomatic expression. "Stones throw from" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "a stone's throw from" and "within walking distance of"?

"A stone's throw from" implies a very short distance, while "within walking distance of" means that a place can be reached by walking, but the distance might be slightly longer.