making distant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making distant" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts where you want to describe the act of creating a sense of distance or separation. Example: "The fog was making distant objects appear more mysterious." Alternative expressions include "creating distance" and "rendering distant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Light is then focused in front of the retina instead of precisely on to it, making distant objects look blurry.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In Europe so-called "merchant bankers" paralleled the development of banking by offering, for a consideration, to assist merchants in making distant payments, using bills of exchange instead of actual coin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Childhood summers in Cornwall had left me with the impression that bird-watching was all about making distant birds look vaguely closer by squinting at them through binoculars; interesting in theory, but ultimately disappointing.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It makes distant matters seem very present.

The New York Times - Arts

Tiny, green cypresses make distant exclamation marks, but only reinforce the sombre mood.

The Economist

That was before modern highways made distant markets accessible to the potent produce of Appalachia.

The New York Times

His aim is to make distant lives matter, and in that he succeeds".

The Guardian - Books

The Island Carib were a maritime people, expert navigators who made distant raids in large dugout canoes.

Britannica

He tells Galileo of an invention from Holland: a tube with two lenses that makes distant objects appear close.

The Guardian - Film

The full-fledged design is to reach orbit and eventually make distant journeys to the moon and Mars, but that is still years away.

The New York Times - Science

The effect, they say, would be to make distant galaxies appear as if they were accelerating as they moved away from us.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific writing, ensure the phrase clearly distinguishes between physical distance and metaphorical distance to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "making distant" when you actually mean "making progress" or "making distance" (as in traveling). The phrase specifically refers to the quality of being far away, not the measurement of a gap covered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making distant" serves as a causative construction where the verb "make" acts as a linking or causative verb followed by the adjective "distant". In Ludwig, it frequently appears as part of a larger clause explaining how a specific variable (like technology or atmosphere) changes the perception of an object.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "making distant" is a linguistically sound and versatile expression used to describe both physical and metaphorical separation. According to Ludwig AI, it is particularly prevalent in high-quality journalism and scientific contexts where authors describe how optics, technology, or emotional factors change the perceived proximity of a subject. While shorter alternatives like <a href="/s/distancing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">distancing exist, this phrase offers a descriptive nuance that highlights the active change in state. It is grammatically correct and widely accepted in professional writing, provided the author distinguishes clearly between literal distance and figurative alienation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distancing

A more concise single-verb alternative

creating distance

Focuses on the process of establishing a gap

rendering remote

More formal and suggests a change in state or perception

making remote

Synonymous but uses a different adjective for far-off objects

alienating

Specific to social or psychological separation between people

setting apart

Suggests distinction or physical separation

isolating

Implies a complete lack of connection rather than just distance

pushing away

More informal and emphasizes the active force applied

keeping at a distance

Suggests maintaining a specific gap intentionally

separating

A general term for dividing two entities

FAQs

How do I use "making distant" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an effect, such as "The fog was <a href="/s/making+distant" target="_blank" rel="alternative">making distant peaks invisible", or metaphorically, "Their constant bickering was <a href="/s/making+them+distant" target="_blank" rel="alternative">making them distant from each other".

What is a more formal way to say "making distant"?

Depending on your context, you might prefer <a href="/s/rendering+remote" target="_blank" rel="alternative">rendering remote or <a href="/s/establishing+separation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">establishing separation.

Is "making distant" better than "distancing"?

Not necessarily; <a href="/s/distancing" target="_blank" rel="alternative">distancing is a more direct verb, while "making distant" functions as a descriptive phrase often used in creative or descriptive prose.

Can "making distant" be used for emotions?

Yes, it is common in literature and psychology to describe <a href="/s/alienating" target="_blank" rel="alternative">alienating behavior that results in emotional detachment.