pretty far from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty far from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant distance or difference from something, either literally or figuratively. Example: "The restaurant is pretty far from my house, so I usually take a bus to get there."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is pretty far from Freud (who was an atheist).

The New Yorker

But they are, sadly, pretty far from the reality.

The New Yorker

But it's still pretty far from the mark.

The New York Times

It's pretty far from the big financial centers".

The New York Times

Even then, however, for Georgia's banks things are pretty far from being peachy.

The Economist

Luckily, Escape Dead Island is pretty far from a survival horror game.

Independent

Many of us are still pretty far from being comfortable travellers in an increasingly diverse world.

The Guardian - Opinion

GEORGE PACKER: I'm pretty far from the negotiations, so it's very hard to predict.

The New Yorker

Intergalactic pie-eating contests are pretty far from Jesse's reality right now.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That is pretty far from just trying to sing "Yankee Doodle" on key.

The New York Times

Bowman said Phelps is "pretty far" from being back in top form.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty far from" to express a noticeable divergence or distance, whether physical or conceptual. It adds a touch of informality while maintaining clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty far from" too frequently in formal writing. While acceptable, overusing "pretty" can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Opt for alternatives like "quite distant from" or "considerably different" in professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty far from" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its relative distance or difference. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct. The examples on Ludwig show its use in describing both physical distance and abstract differences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty far from" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a significant degree of difference or distance. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's important to note its neutral-to-informal register, making it less suitable for strictly formal contexts. As evidenced by the numerous examples on Ludwig, this phrase effectively conveys the idea that something is considerably divergent from a particular standard or location, primarily within news and media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite distant from

Emphasizes the separation in terms of space or abstract comparison; "quite" adds a degree of intensity to the distance.

rather removed from

"Rather" suggests a considerable degree of detachment, implying a significant difference in characteristics or alignment.

a long way from

Indicates significant progress needed to reach a certain goal or state; "a long way" highlights the extended effort required.

far removed from

Stresses the extent to which something has been distanced or separated, often indicating a deliberate action.

distinctly separate from

Underscores a clear and noticeable distinction between two or more entities, emphasizing their lack of connection.

considerably different than

Highlights notable dissimilarities or variations between two subjects, stressing the importance of these differences.

worlds apart from

Implies an irreconcilable gap or extreme dissimilarity between two entities, emphasizing the impossibility of convergence.

bears little resemblance to

Suggests only superficial or faint similarities between two subjects, focusing on the lack of substantial correspondence.

deviates significantly from

Emphasizes that a subject departs markedly from a predetermined norm or expected standard.

bears little relation to

Suggests there is hardly any connection between two distinct elements.

FAQs

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

Use "pretty far from" to indicate something is considerably distant or different. For example, "The actual results were "pretty far from" our initial predictions."

What are some alternatives to saying "pretty far from"?

You can use phrases such as "quite distant from", "rather removed from", or "a long way from" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "pretty far from" or "very far from" in formal writing?

"Very far from" is generally more suitable for formal writing, while "pretty far from" is more casual. Choose based on the tone and audience.

What's the difference between "pretty far from" and "somewhat far from"?

"Pretty far from" suggests a more significant degree of difference or distance than "somewhat far from". "Somewhat far from" indicates a slight divergence, while "pretty far from" suggests a more noticeable one.