length away from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "length away from" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts discussing distance, but it is better to use more conventional expressions. Example: "The object was a considerable length away from the starting point."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

I was about arm's length away from her.

The Guardian

Out popped Kinney, less than an arm's length away from Gillibrand.

The Washington Post

They were not willing to stay an arm's length away from anything.

The New Yorker

In the box seats, fans sit behind a short white trellis fence, a car length away from the court.

The New York Times

A good body's length away from each other, they extended their arms and shook for the cameras.

The New York Times

Granovetter emphasized the importance of knowing someone like Lois who knows many people--because then you're just one "chain length" away from a good opportunity.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

It was full-length away from her, but it was sort of like an awful tease".

The Guardian - Film

He explains that the robots keep him more than arms-length away from the potentially finger-and-arm chopping bits of his work.

Forbes

But is a government that regulates, oversees and largely pays for health insurance really going to stay arms-length away from dictating terms and conditions?

Forbes

An 'arms-length' away from men, if I remember well.

Vice

Mothers spilling themselves into their roles, only a lap-length away from where they began.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spatial relationships, consider if more precise language, such as "distance from" or "separated by", would improve clarity. For example, instead of 'a car length away', specify the measurement in feet or meters.

Common error

Avoid using "length away from" in formal or scientific writing where precision is key. Opt for more specific and measurable distances, like "5 meters from" or "at a distance of 10 cm".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "length away from" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb to indicate a spatial relationship or distance. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's not always the most precise or standard way to express distance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "length away from" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate distance, but it's not always the most precise or common choice. As Ludwig AI points out, it is better to use other alternatives. While grammatically acceptable, it is infrequently used in formal contexts, favoring more explicit and measurable terms. It appears in news articles, scientific papers and wikis, but is generally considered to have neutral to informal register. Consider more direct phrases like "distance from" or "separated by" for improved clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distance from

Focuses on the measure of separation rather than a specific unit.

apart from

Indicates separation or exclusion.

removed from

Highlights the act of taking something away.

separated by a length of

More explicitly states the separation and introduces the concept of a defined length.

at a distance of

Emphasizes a specific distance maintained.

offset from

Suggests a shift or displacement from a reference point.

spaced from

Highlights regular intervals between objects or points.

clear of

Suggests maintaining a safety zone or unoccupied space.

a certain distance from

Indicates a nonspecific but implied measurement.

out of range of

Indicates something cannot be reached or affected.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "length away from"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "distance from", "apart from", or "separated by".

Is "length away from" grammatically correct?

While not strictly incorrect, "length away from" can sound awkward. It's often better to use more common and direct alternatives like "distance from" for better clarity.

How can I use "length away from" in a sentence?

While possible, consider whether a more precise measurement would be clearer. For example, instead of "an arm's length away", you could say "approximately 2 feet away".

What's the difference between "distance from" and "length away from"?

"Distance from" is a more general and commonly used phrase to indicate the space between two points. "Length away from" is less common and may sound less natural in many contexts.