length varies from

USAGE SUMMARY

"length varies from" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to compare the lengths of two or more things, such as "the length of a blue whale varies from 25 to 30 meters."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Their length varies from about 1,500 to more than 18,000 lines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Richard Tuttle has attached blocks of 2-by-2's to each of the panels; their length varies from one block to the next.

The New York Times - Arts

Total length varies from about 11 cm (4.5 inches) in the smaller species to over 28 cm (11 inches) in the larger.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Body length varies from 1 to 140 mm (0.04 to 5.5 inches), but the amphipod of midlatitude regions is about 4 to 10 mm long (0.16 to 0.4 inch).

Britannica

There are currently 15 rail franchises in place and their length varies from an initial seven to 10 years to longer 15-22-year 15-22-year 15-22-yearoing to be a lengthy procontracts

The Guardian

Segment length varies from about 9 to 14 km, and relief of the horst block varies from about 0.6 km in the SE to 1.0 km in the NW.

Geomorphology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

The width varied from 0.11 to 0.33 μm, and the length varied from 0.13 to 0.93 μm (Figure 5B).

Nanoscale Research Letters

The pellet diameter was 6.4 mm; the length varied from 4 to 34 mm.

Biomass and Bioenergy

It is so dilapidated in places that estimates of its total length vary from 9,000 to 21,000 kilometres, depending on whether missing sections are included.

The Guardian

Hung length varied from 114 m to 143 m and hung depth from 7.66 m to 9.50 m.

Regional Studies in Marine Science

The PWM period is around 32 ms and the pulse length vary from 480 us to 2.24 ms depending on the recognized color.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "length varies from", ensure that you provide clear and specific units of measurement to avoid ambiguity. For example: "The cable length varies from 1 meter to 5 meters."

Common error

Avoid mixing units of measurement when stating the range. For instance, don't say "The length varies from 10 cm to 1 inch". Use a single, consistent unit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "length varies from" functions as a descriptive expression, indicating that the dimension of length is not fixed but instead falls within a certain range. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness. It's commonly used across various domains to specify the variability of length.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "length varies from" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe a range of possible lengths. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to provide a quantifiable understanding of dimensions across various contexts, especially within scientific, technical, and news-related domains. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to maintain consistency in units of measurement and clearly define the upper and lower bounds of the specified range. Alternatives such as "length ranges from" or "length differs from" can be used to achieve similar effects, while selecting the most appropriate one for the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

length differs from

Replaces "varies" with "differs", emphasizing the distinction in length.

length ranges from

Uses "ranges" to highlight the scope of possible lengths.

length spans from

Employs "spans" to suggest a continuous extent of length.

length extends from

Uses "extends" to indicate the reach of the length.

length fluctuates between

Replaces "varies from" with "fluctuates between", highlighting the dynamic change in length.

length can be anywhere between

Adds "can be anywhere" to emphasize uncertainty about length.

the size in length changes from

This version incorporates the word "size", slightly altering the focus.

the longitudinal measurement moves from

Substitutes "length" with "longitudinal measurement" for a more technical tone.

the length is not fixed but goes from

Replaces "varies" with a longer explanation expressing the flexibility of length.

the length has a scale going from

Implies a measurement "scale", adding technical nuance but reducing direct similarity.

FAQs

How do I use "length varies from" in a sentence?

Use "length varies from" to indicate a range of possible lengths. For example: "The rope "length varies from" 10 to 20 feet depending on the application."

What are some alternatives to "length varies from"?

You can use alternatives like "length ranges from", "length differs from", or "length spans from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the lengths vary from" instead of "length varies from"?

While grammatically correct, "the lengths vary from" is typically used when discussing multiple objects with different lengths, rather than a single object with a variable length. "Length varies from" is more appropriate when referring to a single, variable dimension.

Can I use "length varies between" instead of "length varies from"?

Yes, "length varies between" is a valid alternative. Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably to indicate a range of lengths. However, ""length varies from"" might be slightly more common.