however far apart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "however far apart" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the idea of distance or separation, both physically and metaphorically, regardless of how great that distance may be. Example: "Our friendship remains strong, however far apart we may be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

This means that however far apart they move, what happens to one affects the other's behaviour.

The Economist

Israel and the Arab world have outlined competing visions that, however far apart, each claim the aim of a Palestinian state.

The New York Times

"However far apart they are, parents will be able to share that all-important bedtime story with their child, using VR technology to connect them in the same virtual world.

The Guardian - Tech

"In the end, however far apart we might be whether with the Iranians or the Russians, those two countries have an influence over what happens in Syria and we need to convince them that a new Syria with a different leader wouldn't necessarily be against their interests,"  he said.

Independent

But however far apart Charlottesville and Bologna may be on the map, a lonely girl in a foreign country and a first-year med student both spend a lot of time on their computers, and we ended up talking almost every day.

The New York Times

However far apart these organizations might seem from one another, regardless of employee motivations for acts Bloomberg has now apologized for and the IRS has admitted to making mistakes for, they are closely related and not coincidental.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The two sides are still far apart in negotiations, however.

The New York Times

Union representatives, however, say the two sides are still far apart.

Huffington Post

However, diplomats and others in the meeting said the two sides were still far apart and that no deal would be reached tonight.

The New York Times

The two sides are still far apart.

The New York Times

But Democrats and Republicans are still far apart.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "however far apart" to emphasize that a connection or influence persists regardless of physical or metaphorical distance. This phrase is effective in highlighting relationships that endure despite separation.

Common error

Avoid using "however far apart" when a simpler phrase like "despite the distance" suffices. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "however far apart" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a clause to express a condition that does not affect the main statement. As Ludwig explains, this phrase highlights distance while maintaining a connection or influence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

41%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "however far apart" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to emphasize that distance does not negate a relationship or influence. Ludwig confirms the phrase is correct and provides several real-world examples. While not exceedingly common, "however far apart" finds use in diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and general discourse. It is most effective when the intention is to highlight the resilience of a connection despite significant physical or metaphorical separation. Related alternatives include "no matter how distant" and "regardless of the distance", offering nuanced variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regardless of the distance

Highlights that the separation does not affect a specific outcome or condition.

however distanced

A more concise variation of the original phrase that is rarely used.

no matter how distant

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the distance between two or more entities.

irrespective of how separated

Similar to 'regardless of', but with a slightly more formal tone.

despite being so remote

Focuses on the unlikelihood of connection due to the distance.

even if they are far removed

Highlights the possibility, in spite of the removal.

notwithstanding their separation

A formal way of saying 'despite their distance'.

though vastly separated

Highlights vastness of the distance.

by any distance

Emphasizes the all encompassing aspect of any amount of separation or space.

in spite of the wide gap

Focuses on the gap rather than distance.

FAQs

How can I use "however far apart" in a sentence?

You can use "however far apart" to emphasize that a relationship, connection, or influence remains despite a considerable distance, such as "However far apart we may be, our friendship will endure."

What phrases are similar to "however far apart"?

Similar phrases include "no matter how distant", "regardless of the distance", or "despite being so remote", each emphasizing the persistence of something despite separation.

Is it more correct to use "however far apart" or "despite the distance"?

Both phrases are correct, but "however far apart" adds emphasis on the extent of the separation, whereas "despite the distance" is more general.

When is it appropriate to use "however far apart" in writing?

Use "however far apart" when you want to highlight that a connection or influence continues to exist regardless of significant physical or metaphorical separation. It's especially useful when the distance might seem like a barrier, but the connection remains strong.