far later than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far later than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant delay or a time that is much later compared to a reference point. Example: "The project was completed far later than the original deadline, causing frustration among the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

This was far later than the democrats wanted, but the first clear timetable.

The Economist

Almost all the "doves" I knew became doves far later than they remember.

The New York Times

Mr. Maiss applied on Dec. 26, 2007, far later than most of the other pardon recipients.

The New York Times

The starters played into the third quarter against the Jets, far later than they played in previous seasons.

The New York Times - Sports

Most written languages were adopted far later than that, while universal literacy is hardly more than a century old.

The Economist

All of this means people go to bed far later than they should and get less sleep than they need.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

And the cyclist who accidentally became a boxer, who obtained his titles and athletic acclaim far later in life than most, has made more money from investments than from fighting, has made millions outside the ring, according to his advisers.

The New York Times - Sports

Seven experts expressed their beliefs on the topic in the Room for Debate piece "When Do Kids Become Adults?" Neuroscientists now know that brain maturation continues far later into development than had been believed previously.

The New York Times

It sees the comedian play a semi-autobiographical version of himself gigging, raising his two kids and trying to cope with the world of dating far later in life than he expected to.

Independent

Kennedy, by contrast, wrote an angry dissent, suggesting that he had been duped in 1992 into supporting a malleable legal standard that O'Connor and the liberal justices were invoking to strike down abortion restrictions far later in pregnancy than he had anticipated -- restrictions supported by George W. Bush, Al Gore and two-thirds of the American people.

The New York Times - Magazine

Women with autism have been found, on the whole, to be diagnosed far later in life than men, and are fare more likely to be either misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all frequently, they're mis-labelled as having some sort of personality disorder or mental illness instead.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far later than" to clearly indicate a significant delay or a time much further in the future than an expected or reference point. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "far later than" when a simpler comparison suffices. For instance, instead of saying "the meeting started far later than scheduled, which was already late", consider "the meeting started much later than scheduled" or "the meeting was significantly delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far later than" functions as an adverbial phrase used for comparative purposes. It modifies a verb or adjective to indicate that an event occurred or will occur at a time significantly after a reference point. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

22%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far later than" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to highlight a significant delay or time difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively emphasizes that an event occurred or will occur at a time much further in the future than anticipated. While versatile and appropriate for various contexts, it is advisable to avoid redundancy by considering simpler alternatives when the "far" emphasis isn't necessary. Predominantly used in News & Media and Science, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly later than

Emphasizes the magnitude of the delay.

considerably later than

Highlights that the delay is noteworthy or substantial.

appreciably later than

Implies that the delay is noticeable or measurable.

noticeably later than

Suggests that the delay is easily observed or detected.

substantially later than

Indicates a significant or considerable difference in time.

markedly later than

Highlights the conspicuous or evident nature of the delay.

much later than

A more concise way to express a delay.

well after

Focuses on the event occurring a significant time after a reference point.

long after

Emphasizes the duration of the time elapsed.

down the line

Less formal expression, implying a point in the distant future relative to another.

FAQs

How can I use "far later than" in a sentence?

Use "far later than" to indicate that something happened or will happen significantly after a specific time or event. For example, "The discovery was made "far later than" initially anticipated".

What are some alternatives to "far later than"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly later than", "considerably later than", or "much later than" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "far later than" formal or informal?

"Far later than" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in news articles, academic papers, and everyday conversation. The level of formality largely depends on the surrounding language and context.

What is the difference between "later than" and "far later than"?

"Far later than" implies a greater degree of delay or difference in time compared to simply saying "later than". "Far" emphasizes the significance of the time difference.