about that far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about that far" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an approximate distance or extent, often in a conversational context. Example: "When I asked him how far he could throw the ball, he held his hand out and said, 'About that far.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I'd like to have a putt from about that far".

The New York Times - Sports

And if we just walk out around the Tree of Life, and say, "Oh, anything that has that branch length from what we think is the origin, was probably there at the same time, even though we don't have a fossil of it". That's the implication of the molecular phylogeny; it's that everything else that's about that far out from the common ancestor was probably there at the time.

Yale University

Don't worry, I don't intend to talk about the indelicate biology side of things (although we talk about that far less often than we should as well), but rather the impact it has on self-esteem, self-confidence and our idea of who we are, our sense of self.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She said, 'Destiny has shaped my end.' Paar threw it to me and I went into the commercial, which began, 'No matter what size or shape can you have, the Reliance can opener can handle it.' I got about that far and I was finished".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And I wrote about that as far back as 2005, and I think my concerns were to some degree vindicated.

Forbes

Cowen and Co. analyst Peter Goldmacher said there are more fundamental concerns investors have about Oracle that far outweigh the lawsuit.

Forbes

But some put the eastern border about halfway that far east, at 154th or 155th Street.

The New York Times

"I worry about him running that far".

The New Yorker

On Wednesday, however, Rodriguez was not about to look that far into the future.

The New York Times - Sports

"His notions about science were not that far out there," he said.

The New York Times - Science

"I've not heard anything about that so far.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "about that far" when providing an approximate distance or extent in a casual context. It is best suited for conversational settings or informal writing where precise measurements are not necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "about that far" in formal or scientific writing where precise measurements are required. Opt for more specific and quantifiable terms instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about that far" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective by providing an approximation of distance or extent. Ludwig examples show its use in indicating a specific distance or a general area.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about that far" serves as a handy way to approximate distance or extent, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically sound, its informality makes it better suited for casual settings. As examples from Ludwig show, it appears frequently in News & Media and Academia, offering a general sense of measurement without the need for precision. For more formal or scientific contexts, alternatives like "approximately that distance" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

around that far

Uses "around" as a synonym for "about", indicating an approximation.

approximately that distance

Replaces the idiomatic "about" with the more formal "approximately" while maintaining the reference to a specific distance.

roughly that distance

Uses "roughly" instead of "about" to convey an estimate of distance.

more or less that far

Uses "more or less" to indicate an approximation of distance.

in the neighborhood of that distance

Replaces "about" with the more descriptive "in the neighborhood of," suggesting an estimated distance.

in that general vicinity

Indicates an area rather than a precise distance, implying a degree of uncertainty.

in that ballpark

Uses the idiom "in that ballpark" to indicate an approximate amount or distance.

somewhere in that area

Similar to "in that general vicinity", but less formal.

in that proximity

Replaces the specific measure with the general term "proximity", indicating nearness.

to approximately that extent

Shifts the focus to extent or degree rather than physical distance, using more formal language.

FAQs

How can I use "about that far" in a sentence?

You can use "about that far" to indicate an approximate distance or extent. For example, "I'd like to have a putt from "about that far"."

What phrases are similar to "about that far"?

Similar phrases include "approximately that distance", "roughly that distance", or "more or less that far".

Is "about that far" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "about that far" is better suited for informal or conversational contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise language.

What does "about that far" imply?

"About that far" implies an estimation or approximation of a distance or extent, rather than a precise measurement.