many miles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "many miles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a significant distance, often in a figurative or literal sense. Example: "The journey took us many miles across the rugged terrain before we reached our destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Misurata coastline covers many miles.

The New York Times

How many miles have you gone already?

The New York Times - Magazine

How many miles long is a lunar?

The New York Times

They are many miles apart.

The New York Times

My parents live many miles away.

The Guardian

HOW many miles of track does the city subway have?

The New York Times

The trip from feral to refined covered many miles.

The New York Times

The Earth's atmosphere extends to a height of many miles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The wet cicadas scree-slide over how many miles.

The New Yorker

"Too many miles on the tires," he would say.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Most of the reports detailed how many miles each company's vehicles logged.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "many miles", ensure the context clarifies whether you are referring to a literal physical distance or a figurative distance, such as progress made or differences in opinion. Be specific if precision is needed; otherwise, the phrase effectively conveys a significant separation.

Common error

Avoid using "many miles" when a more precise measurement is available or necessary. Overusing the phrase in contexts requiring exact distances can reduce the clarity and impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "many miles" functions as an adjectival modifier quantifying the noun "miles". According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used, confirming its validity as a standard English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

18%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "many miles" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate a significant distance, whether literal or figurative. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans a variety of contexts, from news and media to scientific and encyclopedic sources. When using "many miles", ensure clarity by specifying the type of distance and consider more formal alternatives like "considerable distance" for professional contexts. Be mindful not to overuse it in scenarios demanding precise measurements. Based on the contexts in which it most frequently appears, "many miles" is usually employed in journalistic or informational pieces.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a great distance

A more general way to express a long separation.

good distance

A common and simple way of expressing a noticeable space.

significant distance

Highlights the importance or impact of the distance.

substantial distance

Emphasizes the largeness or size of the separation.

considerable distance

Focuses on the extent of the separation more directly than the number of miles.

considerable way

Similar to "considerable distance" but more informal.

extensive distance

Focuses on how wide the separation is.

long way

An informal way to say something is very far.

vast expanse

Implies not just distance, but a wide area.

long haul

Focuses on duration of travel, or a task.

FAQs

How can I use "many miles" in a sentence?

You can use "many miles" to describe a significant physical distance, such as "They traveled "many miles" to reach their destination", or a figurative distance, like "We have "many miles" to go before achieving our goal".

What's the difference between "many miles" and "a great distance"?

While both phrases indicate a long separation, "many miles" is more specific, implying the distance can be measured in miles. "A great distance" is more general and can refer to any kind of separation, not necessarily physical. Both phrases can be used interchangeably depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "many miles" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "considerable distance", "significant distance", or "substantial distance". These phrases convey a similar meaning but with increased formality.

Is it correct to say "much miles" instead of "many miles"?

No, it is grammatically incorrect to say "much miles". "Miles" is a countable noun, so it requires the quantifier "many". "Much" is used with uncountable nouns. However, "much distance" is a grammatically valid alternative.