five hours away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'five hours away' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a time that is five hours after the present time, or five hours before an upcoming event. For example, "The final exam is five hours away - make sure you are prepared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is five hours away, in Vermont.

The New York Times

Atlanta is five hours away by car.

The New York Times

Mexico City is a good five hours away.

The New York Times - Travel

The closest commercial airport is five hours away.

The New York Times

She lives five hours away and has no interest in moving closer.

The New York Times

Airports and bridges would soon close, but the donated organ was in Nevada, five hours away.

The New York Times - Health

And the closest testing facility is five hours away in Doha, Qatar.

Independent

The Gizmodo story mentioned the girls in Le Roy but also some in Corinth, N.Y., about five hours away.

The New York Times

"And, besides, when I can't get something I really want, Los Angeles is only five hours away by plane".

The New Yorker

Most visitors drive from London, about five hours away in typically heavy traffic; Bristol is three hours.

The New York Times

He was a partner in a public relations firm who conveniently lived five hours away in Washington.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "five hours away", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to travel time or a future event's timing.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying the starting point or event to which the "five hours away" refers. For example, instead of "the concert is five hours away", say "the concert is five hours away from now" or "the concert is a five-hour drive away from here".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five hours away" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating distance in terms of time. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, where it specifies the duration of a journey or the time until an event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "five hours away" is a common and grammatically correct way to express distance in terms of travel time or the time remaining until an event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, primarily in News & Media. The phrase is best used when the reference point is clear to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "a five-hour drive" or "five hours' journey", depending on the specific context. Remember to maintain clarity by specifying the reference point when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a five-hour drive

Specifies the mode of transport as driving.

a five-hour trip

General term for a journey lasting five hours.

five hours' journey

Emphasizes the act of traveling for five hours.

a five-hour distance

Focuses on the distance rather than the travel time.

located five hours from here

More specific about the location relative to the speaker.

requiring five hours to get there

Focuses on the time required for travel.

within five hours

Indicates a boundary of time within which something can be reached.

within a five-hour radius

Defines an area that can be accessed in five hours.

at a five-hour reach

Implies accessibility within a five-hour timeframe.

a five-hour span

Highlights the duration of five hours.

FAQs

How can I use "five hours away" in a sentence?

You can use "five hours away" to describe the distance to a location (e.g., "The beach is "five hours away" by car.") or the time remaining until an event (e.g., "The game starts in "five hours away".").

What does "five hours away" mean?

"Five hours away" typically means a location is a five-hour journey from the current location or that an event will occur in five hours from the present time.

What are some alternatives to saying "five hours away"?

Alternatives include "a five-hour drive", "a five-hour trip", "five hours' journey", or "requiring five hours to get there" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "five hour away" instead of "five hours away"?

No, the correct phrasing is ""five hours away"". When referring to a duration of time, use the plural form of "hour".