miles of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miles of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a large quantity or extent of something, often in a figurative sense. Example: "The park had miles of beautiful walking trails that wound through the trees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Fourteen miles of bunting.

The New Yorker

miles of land.

The New Yorker

miles of Tanzanian territory.

The New Yorker

Three miles of mooring chains.

The New Yorker

Andrew's got miles of coattails".

The New York Times

"You get two miles of pay".

The New Yorker

Tagline: "170,000 square miles of desert.

The New York Times

Or the 26.2 miles of a marathon.

The New York Times

Two miles of the French line collapsed.

The New Yorker

"It has miles of unspoilt beaches".

Independent

miles of India occupied by Pakistanis.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "miles of" to vividly convey a sense of vastness or abundance. For example, "The park offers miles of walking trails" effectively communicates the park's size and the walking opportunities it provides.

Common error

Don't use "miles of" only for physical distances if you aim to describe something figurative like "miles of smiles" when you intend to describe abundance of smiles. In such cases prefer "a lot of" or "plenty of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miles of" functions primarily as a quantifier, specifying a considerable extent or amount of something. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in describing both physical distances and abstract quantities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "miles of" serves to illustrate significant extent or quantity, often with an emphasis on vastness. It's grammatically sound and extremely common, according to Ludwig AI, finding frequent usage in contexts like news and media. While versatile, it's best employed when the intention is to underscore large amounts—whether literal or figurative. When a non-literal meaning is intended, it is better to choose alternatives like "a lot of" or "plenty of" in order to avoid misunderstanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vast expanse of

Highlights the immensity and openness of the area or quantity.

extensive stretch of

Emphasizes the continuous and broad nature of the extent.

significant extent of

Highlights the importance and size of the area or quantity.

considerable distance of

Focuses on the length between two points.

broad scope of

Refers to the wide range or coverage of something.

long line of

Implies a linear arrangement over a significant length.

wide range of

Focuses on the variety and breadth of options or items.

great deal of

Indicates a large quantity or amount, not necessarily related to distance.

large quantity of

General term for a significant amount, applicable to various contexts.

numerous instances of

Shifts the focus to the high number of occurrences or examples.

FAQs

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

Use "miles of" to describe a large extent or quantity of something. For example: "The coastline stretches for miles of sandy beaches."

What's a good alternative to "miles of" when describing quantity?

Alternatives include "a great deal of" or "a large quantity of", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "miles of" for abstract concepts?

Yes, it can be used figuratively to describe a large amount of something non-physical, such as "miles of red tape" to indicate excessive bureaucracy.

What's the difference between "miles of" and "kilometers of"?

"Miles of" is used in countries that use the imperial system, while "kilometers of" is used in countries that use the metric system. They both refer to distance, just in different units.