far late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far late" is not correct and not commonly used in written English.
It seems to be an attempt to express being significantly late, but it does not convey that meaning effectively. Example: "I arrived far late to the meeting, missing the important discussion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Benneteau, playing with a leg problem, had to settle for style points this time, winning the rally of the tournament thus far late in the second set by solving Federer's acute, sliced angles with some gorgeous geometry of his own and then winning another point in the third with a behind-the-back volley.

The New York Times - Sports

So far, late access to care, differences in behaviour and lower adherence to therapy have been advocated to explain these sexual differences [31].

AIDS

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Thus far, late-onset pure SMA has been associated with three separate loci.

Brain

It's far too late for pills, and too late for most OB-GYNS.

The New York Times

The story so far: late last July, Apple abruptly pulled all third party Google Voice iPhone applications, which had been on the App Store for months without any problems.

TechCrunch

The story so far: late last July, Apple abruptly pulled all third party Google Voice applications from the App Store, explaining that they somehow were duplicating the iPhone's native functionality.

TechCrunch

Too little, far too late.

The New York Times

It is far too late for that.

The New York Times - Sports

It was far too late for that.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, I only noticed far too late".

The New York Times - Sports

We are expecting far fewer late deals".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "far late" in your writing. Opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "very late" or "significantly late".

Common error

Be careful not to use "far" as an intensifier before "late" as it's not standard usage. "Far" typically modifies adverbs and adjectives related to distance, not time. Stick to recognized adverbs like "very", "too", or "significantly" to describe the extent of lateness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far late" functions as an attempt to modify the adjective "late", aiming to emphasize the degree of lateness. However, Ludwig indicates that this construction is not standard or grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "far late" is not considered grammatically correct or standard English. While the intention might be to emphasize lateness, it's best to use established alternatives like "very late" or "significantly late". Ludwig identifies this phrase as non-standard, and its use should be avoided in formal and professional writing. Consider alternative phrases such as "too late" or "considerably late" to clearly convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly late

Emphasizes the degree of lateness.

considerably late

Highlights that the lateness is noteworthy.

too late

A common expression indicating lateness to the point of ineffectiveness.

very late

Simple and direct way to express significant lateness.

extremely late

Indicates an exceptionally high degree of lateness.

incredibly late

Similar to 'extremely late', but with an added sense of disbelief or surprise.

noticeably late

Suggests the lateness was easily observed.

appreciably late

Highlights a tangible or measurable degree of lateness.

well past the deadline

Highlights that the lateness exceedes the allowed time.

long overdue

Suggests the lateness has extended beyond what was reasonably expected.

FAQs

Is "far late" grammatically correct?

No, "far late" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "very late" or "significantly late" instead.

What does "far late" try to convey?

The phrase "far late" seems to attempt to convey that something is considerably or significantly late. However, it is not the conventional way to express this idea. More appropriate choices would be "considerably late" or "extremely late".

Can I use "far" to intensify other adjectives related to time?

While "far" can intensify some adjectives and adverbs, it doesn't typically work with adjectives of time like "late". Using "far" is more suited for words like "distant" (far distant) or "removed" (far removed) rather than "late".

Are there any contexts where "far late" might be acceptable?

The phrase "far late" is generally not acceptable in formal or standard English. While creative writing might allow for unconventional phrasing, it's best to avoid "far late" in most contexts to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.