less far apart

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less far apart" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two or more things that are closer to each other in distance or degree than they were previously. Example: "After the renovations, the two buildings are now less far apart than they used to be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The markets remained choppy thereafter.In this section The balancing act City limits We want the world Less far apart ReprintsSo is Latin America's recovery threatened?

The Economist

The bank reckons that trade could double in five years with lower import tariffs, better customs procedures and improved transport links.In this section The balancing act City limits We want the world Less far apart ReprintsPolitical ties are warming, too.

The Economist

Yes, those were his exact words; it would have been contentious enough if he had merely stated that Orthodoxy and Islam were a closer pair (or less far apart) than Catholicism and Islam, but from the videotape (in Russian), it's clear that he is making an even bolder claim.

The Economist

(Note: Locke and Kant may be less far apart than this brief discussion would suggest. We are merely using them to illustrate the two positions, not discussing either of them fully).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

If the probability of crossing over taking place is uniform along the length of a chromosome (which was later shown to be not quite true), then genes close together will be recombined less frequently than those far apart.

Encyclopedia Britannica

B5 Building Worker Labor Talks Negotiators for the real estate industry and the union for apartment building workers said they were far apart in bargaining, less than 10 days before a strike deadline.

The New York Times

This is because, if the anchor and partner SNP are far apart, they are less likely to be both correlated with a causal variant but may still achieve a high correlation score.

Genetic Epidemiology

Taking the assumption that C. botulinum does play a role in the aetiology of this specific cause of colic as a working hypothesis, it would seem plausible that the levels of the pathogen in the environment will be temporally structured so that they are similar in proximate months and less similar in months which are far apart, irrespective of the seasonal effect.

BMC Veterinary Research

However, you need to be careful when planning the space, because if it pushes your work surfaces too far apart, they'll be much less efficient.

Forbes

Holes should not be too far apart, roughly an inch (2.5 cm) or less.

WikiHow

Less-frequented areas like hallways have small halogen lights spaced far apart.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "less far apart" when you want to emphasize a relative change in distance or agreement, rather than stating an absolute closeness.

Common error

Avoid using "less far apart" when you actually mean "close" or "nearby". The phrase is best used to indicate a reduction in distance, not the state of being close.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less far apart" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate a reduced degree of separation or distance. It describes how two or more things relate to each other in terms of proximity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "less far apart" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate a reduction in distance or difference, as verified by Ludwig AI. While not exceedingly common, it finds application across news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a change in separation rather than simply describing a state of being close. Consider using alternatives like "closer together" or ""more aligned"" depending on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

closer together

Focuses on the proximity of items, emphasizing a reduction in the space between them.

not as distant

Highlights the decrease in separation, framing it in terms of lessened distance.

more aligned

Shifts the focus to agreement or similarity, suggesting a convergence of ideas or positions.

converging

Implies a dynamic process of coming closer, often used for abstract concepts.

narrowing the gap

Emphasizes the act of reducing a disparity, suitable for quantifiable or conceptual differences.

becoming similar

Highlights the increasing resemblance between two or more things.

approximating

Suggests a drawing near to a specific value or condition.

inching closer

Implies a gradual reduction in distance or difference, often with a sense of effort.

becoming more comparable

Focuses on the increasing ability to compare two things due to reduced differences.

ameliorating differences

Emphasizes improving or lessening the dissimilarities between entities.

FAQs

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

Use "less far apart" to describe a reduction in distance or difference between two or more things. For example, "After the mediation, the two parties were "more aligned" and therefore less far apart".

What is a good alternative to "less far apart"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "closer together", "not as distant", or ""more aligned"".

When is it appropriate to use "less far apart" instead of "closer"?

"Less far apart" is suitable when you want to emphasize a change in distance or agreement. "Closer" simply describes the state of being near. For example, "The houses are closer now that the trees have been removed" versus "The houses are less far apart after the new road was built, shortening the distance".

Is "less far apart" the same as "not very different"?

While both phrases suggest a reduced degree of separation, "less far apart" typically refers to physical or conceptual distance, whereas "not very different" emphasizes similarity in characteristics or qualities. Using "The two concepts are less far apart" implies a conceptual distance has shortened but "The two concepts are not very different" highlights that they share some characteristics.