pretty far apart

USAGE SUMMARY

'pretty far apart' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe physical things that are located or separated a considerable distance from each other. For example, "The nearest towns are pretty far apart, so it takes about two hours to drive between them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"They started out pretty far apart," a Biden aide says.

The New York Times

And they were pretty far apart on what the movie was about".

Independent

David: And I should say on substance the two parties are pretty far apart, as Obama's speech on Tuesday demonstrated.

The New York Times

We're not closing the door on returning, but right now we're pretty far apart in what we're interested in.

The New York Times - Sports

"And they were pretty far apart on what the movie was about — Bill wanted it to be more philosophical, and Harold kept reminding him it was a comedy".

The New Yorker

It then occurred to me that a few decades ago, when evangelicals and Catholics were further apart on birth control, they were also pretty far apart on questions of salvation — evangelicals were quite clear that Catholics were going to hell.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

They lived in a street on the outskirts of Greenville which is counted one of its worst sections, though to the stranger's eye it looks pleasant enough, since the houses are set far apart in a pretty countryside.

The New Yorker

"The president and I had a pretty frank conversation about just how far apart we are," he said of their Tuesday phone talk.

Huffington Post

Schechner recalls coming across Gray's head shot and seeing a young man "staring out with eyes so far apart — he wasn't trying to look pretty, he wasn't trying to do anything".

The New York Times - Magazine

Earlier the production felt static and cold: the songs, while pretty, struck a similar tempo and melodic range and the band members stayed far apart on the huge stage.

The New York Times - Arts

They weren't far apart.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty far apart" to describe not only physical distances but also differences in opinions, ideas, or conditions. For example, "The two candidates are pretty far apart on their economic policies."

Common error

Avoid overusing "pretty" in formal writing. While "pretty far apart" is acceptable, consider stronger alternatives like "considerably" or "significantly" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty far apart" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the degree of separation or difference. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It indicates that items or concepts are not close together or similar. For example, "The houses are pretty far apart."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty far apart" is a commonly used adjectival phrase that conveys a significant degree of separation or difference. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While generally neutral in register, it leans toward informal contexts, appearing frequently in news and media. For more formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "considerably separated" or "significantly different". Be mindful of overusing "pretty" as an intensifier in formal contexts. The phrase effectively communicates that items, ideas, or locations are noticeably distanced from one another.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rather distant

Replaces "far apart" with "distant" and "pretty" with "rather", softening the tone slightly.

quite distant

Similar to "rather distant", this option uses "quite" instead of "pretty" to convey the distance.

considerably separated

This alternative replaces "far apart" with a more formal "considerably separated".

widely separated

Emphasizes the extent of separation, using "widely" instead of "pretty far".

significantly different

Shifts the focus to the degree of difference rather than physical distance.

substantially different

Uses a stronger term, "substantially", to highlight a notable difference.

a good distance away

Replaces "far apart" with a more descriptive and spatial term.

a long way off

Offers an idiomatic alternative suggesting remoteness.

poles apart

Presents a metaphorical expression that indicates extreme opposition or difference.

worlds apart

Another metaphorical expression emphasizing significant dissimilarity.

FAQs

What does "pretty far apart" mean?

The phrase "pretty far apart" means that two or more things are separated by a considerable distance, either physically or conceptually. It suggests a significant gap or difference between them.

What can I say instead of "pretty far apart"?

You can use alternatives like "rather distant", "considerably separated", or "significantly different" depending on the context.

Is "pretty far apart" formal or informal?

The phrase "pretty far apart" is generally considered informal. For more formal contexts, you might prefer phrases like "considerably separated" or "significantly different".

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

You can use "pretty far apart" to describe physical distances (e.g., "The two cities are pretty far apart") or conceptual differences (e.g., "The two proposals are pretty far apart in their approach").