are far away

USAGE SUMMARY

'are far away' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a great physical distance between two points. Example: The nearest store is five miles away, so it's unlikely I'll go there since they are far away.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Factories are far away.

The New Yorker

These possibilities, however, are far away.

The Economist

Maybe, but they are far away.

The Guardian

But now I am are far away.

The Guardian

"We are far away from a recession".

The New York Times

"We are far away from understanding this process," he said.

The New York Times - Health

Desirable items go very quickly and most are far away.

The Guardian

"We are far away from the city and miss civilization.

The New York Times

"Most of these kids are far away from home.

The New York Times - Sports

The Hungarian events are far away, but are they?

The New York Times

I do not think we are far away.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing distances, consider the perspective of the observer. "Are far away" implies a significant separation from the speaker or subject.

Common error

Avoid using "are far away" when "were" is more appropriate, particularly when discussing past events or conditions. For example, instead of "The problems are far away now", use "The problems "were far away" now" to indicate the problems no longer exist.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are far away" functions as an adjective phrase describing the spatial or metaphorical distance of a subject from a reference point. It attributes the quality of being distant to the subject, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are far away" is a versatile and frequently used adjective phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to describe physical or metaphorical distance. It is grammatically correct and appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Academic sources. When using the phrase, consider the context and ensure that the tense and subject-verb agreement are accurate. Alternatives such as "are distant" or "are remote" can provide similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are distant

Emphasizes separation, either physically or metaphorically, without necessarily implying great distance; similar to "are far away" but slightly more formal.

are remote

Implies isolation and inaccessibility, highlighting the difficulty of reaching or interacting with something; shares the sense of separation with "are far away".

are a long way off

Focuses on the distance regarding time or progress towards a goal, not necessarily physical distance. It's more idiomatic.

are far removed

Indicates a significant difference or disconnection, often in a metaphorical sense (e.g., "are far removed from reality"); less literal than "are far away".

are out of reach

Suggests something is unattainable, whether physically or figuratively; emphasizes the impossibility of reaching or obtaining something, unlike "are far away" which simply denotes distance.

are a world apart

Highlights the vast difference or contrast between two things; implies a greater degree of separation than "are far away".

are nowhere near

Indicates a significant deficiency or lack of proximity to a particular goal or standard, focusing on the absence of closeness.

are light years away

Emphasizes extreme distance, either literally (in astronomical terms) or figuratively; conveys a sense of vast separation.

are poles apart

Highlights extreme opposition or difference, focusing on contradictory viewpoints or characteristics. Less about physical distance than "are far away".

are beyond the horizon

Suggests something is not currently visible or attainable but may become so in the future; carries a sense of potential or anticipation, contrasting with the directness of "are far away".

FAQs

How can I use "are far away" in a sentence?

The phrase "are far away" is used to describe a significant physical or metaphorical distance between two entities. For example, "The factories "are far away", making it difficult to oversee production" or "Her dreams "are far away", but she's determined to achieve them."

What's the difference between "are far away" and "are distant"?

"Are far away" typically refers to physical distance, while "are distant" can refer to both physical and emotional or metaphorical distance. "The stars "are far away"" emphasizes physical separation, whereas "They are distant from each other" suggests a strained relationship.

Which is correct, "is far away" or "are far away"?

The correct form depends on whether you're referring to a singular or plural subject. Use "is far away" for singular subjects (e.g., "The city is far away") and ""are far away"" for plural subjects (e.g., "The islands "are far away"").

What can I say instead of "are far away"?

You can use alternatives like "are distant", "are remote", or "are a long way off" depending on the context.