aeons ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aeons ago" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an amount of time that has elapsed since some event in the distant past, often with the connotation that the event is no longer relevant or remembered. For example, "The war between the two countries ended aeons ago, but its effects are still felt today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

It feels like aeons ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

The style of humour belongs several aeons ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Any categorisation system was clearly abandoned many aeons ago.

The Guardian - Travel

You're left with an enhanced regard for what Kraftwerk did all those aeons ago.

Independent

It is not now, so clearly the climate has changed since aeons ago.

The Guardian

Difficult to understand in these days of universal mobiles, but this was aeons ago.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

More pop CD reviews The feral onslaught of Pearl Jam's debut, Ten, seems like an aeon ago now.

The Guardian - Music

It is more than 20 years since the term New Labour was coined, which is an aeon ago in political time.

The Guardian

Most of the overs were sent down by two recent England fast bowlers who, it feels, played their last Tests an aeon ago - Andy Caddick and Richard Johnson.

The Guardian - Sport

Though it seems like an aeon ago, it is actually only a few years since the Tories pigheadedly opposed the repeal of Section 28, an antiquated piece of legislation widely regarded as homophobic.

The Economist

Her time in the sun during this race feels like an aeon ago; a sort of conservative Golden Age that one suspects never really existed except in the minds of very, very old men.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aeons ago" to emphasize that something occurred a very long time ago, often so long that it feels almost unimaginable or irrelevant now.

Common error

Avoid using "aeons ago" in highly formal or scientific contexts where a more precise measurement of time is expected. Opt for more specific terms like "millennia ago" or "millions of years ago" when accuracy is paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aeons ago" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action or event took place. It specifies a time far in the past. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe how long ago an event occurred.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aeons ago" is a grammatically sound and commonly used adverbial phrase that signifies a very distant time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for general usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While precise scientific or formal writing might benefit from more specific terms, "aeons ago" effectively conveys the sense of something occurring a very, very long time ago. Related phrases like "a long time past" or "in the distant past" offer similar meanings with slight variations in tone. It is important to avoid overuse in scientific writing where a more precise measurement of time is expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

long, long ago

It reinforces the idea of a significant amount of time having passed.

in the distant past

A straightforward way to describe a time far back.

in distant times

It's a literal expression, denoting events occurred in the remote past.

many years since

This alternative focuses on the number of years that have passed.

a long time past

This alternative uses a more general term to indicate a distant time.

ages past

This phrase suggests a vast expanse of time.

in bygone eras

This phrase evokes a sense of historical periods long gone.

in former times

It indicates a period earlier than the present.

in the olden days

This phrase often refers to a romanticized or simpler past.

way back when

This is an informal way to refer to the distant past.

FAQs

How can I use "aeons ago" in a sentence?

You can use "aeons ago" to describe events that happened a very long time in the past. For example: "The dinosaurs roamed the Earth "aeons ago"."

What's a more formal alternative to "aeons ago"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "millennia ago" or "in the distant past" instead of ""aeons ago"".

Is "aeons ago" suitable for scientific writing?

While understandable, ""aeons ago"" is generally too imprecise for scientific writing. Use more specific timeframes, such as "millions of years ago" or "billions of years ago", to maintain scientific accuracy.

What feeling does "aeons ago" evoke?

"Aeons ago" typically evokes a sense of immense time, suggesting that the event is so distant it's almost mythical or hard to grasp.