miles distant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miles distant" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a measurement of distance, often in a more poetic or formal context. Example: "The village lay miles distant from the nearest city, surrounded by rolling hills and lush forests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Ozette River was still nearly four miles distant.

The New York Times - Travel

Bradbury estimates the Lights at around 600 miles distant.

Independent

After hours of street fighting they reached the imperial palace, about four miles distant, at sundown.

Encyclopedia Britannica

One of those was four miles distant; the other was nine.

The New Yorker

The next school may be a hundred miles distant, so you are stuck where you are.

The New Yorker

Soon after that, Palenque began trading with communities hundreds of miles distant.

The New York Times - Travel

Then he looked up again at the casinos a couple miles distant over center field.

The New York Times

(By the way, the moon is about a quarter of a million miles distant, give or take).

The New York Times

Behind us, perhaps six miles distant are rocky peaks smothered in snow, even now, in high summer.

Independent

To determine if casual encounters on the road were motivating buyers to select one type of vehicle over another, the researchers grouped each ZIP code with other ZIP codes that were directly adjacent, 10 to 30 miles distant, 30 to 50 miles distant and more than 100 miles distant.

The New York Times

Lou Fletcher, the young protagonist, arrives fresh from a farm only a few miles distant but a world away.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "miles distant" to add a touch of formality or poetic flair to your writing, especially when describing landscapes, historical events, or geographical locations.

Common error

Avoid using "miles distant" in casual conversations or informal writing, as it may sound unnatural or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "miles away" or "miles apart" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miles distant" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a noun or verb to indicate spatial separation. It enhances the description of distance, adding detail to locations, objects, or events. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in describing physical separation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

15%

Travel

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Books

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "miles distant" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to express spatial separation, according to Ludwig AI. While interchangeable with simpler alternatives like "miles away", it adds a touch of formality and descriptive detail, making it particularly suitable for news reports, encyclopedic entries, and travel writing. The phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Encyclopedias, with a slightly elevated register, making it less appropriate for casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

miles away

A more common and informal way to express distance.

miles apart

Focuses on the separation between two points rather than a specific distance.

several miles off

Specifically indicates the distance from a certain location.

a considerable distance

Emphasizes the magnitude of the distance, without specifying an exact measurement.

far off

A more general term for distance, suitable for less precise contexts.

at a distance of miles

More formal and descriptive, suitable for technical or descriptive writing.

located miles from

Emphasizes the location's remoteness.

many miles hence

An archaic way to express a distance of miles.

removed by miles

Focuses on the act of separating or removing something by a long distance.

miles in the distance

Describes that something can be seen or perceived at a distance of miles.

FAQs

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

You can use "miles distant" to describe the distance between two locations. For example, "The remote cabin was several "miles distant" from the nearest town".

What can I say instead of "miles distant"?

You can use alternatives like "miles away", "miles apart", or "far off" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "miles distant" or "miles away"?

Both "miles distant" and "miles away" are correct, but "miles away" is more commonly used in everyday speech. "Miles distant" is often used in more formal or descriptive contexts.

What's the difference between "miles distant" and "at a distance of miles"?

"Miles distant" is a more concise way to express distance. "At a distance of miles" is more descriptive and can be used for emphasis.