rather far off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather far off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is distant in terms of physical location or time, or to indicate that something is not very close to the truth or reality. Example: "The predictions made by the analyst were rather far off from what actually happened in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While it's not hard to imagine a future in which comprehensive health care reform becomes something of a political boon for Democrats, we're rather far off – and now further off – from that point.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The key to this highly desirable, but still rather far-off goal is an in-depth understanding of the processes involved at a molecular scale.

ChemPhysChem

Then I spotted, well off to the west, and rather far out at sea, a familiar minuet of stick figures, rising and falling, backlit by the afternoon sun.

The New Yorker

I know, for instance, a former doctor who is now running an "apartment barroom" rather far uptown, just off Broadway.

The New Yorker

Construction was under way on the memorial, and the opening wasn't that far off, but rather than hover in St . Louisand fret, micromanaging the development of their sorrowful mall, as she'd started to think of it, Ida stayed in Chicago and took walks along the lake.

The New Yorker

However, due to budgetary restraints, the original costume and make-up plans were scrapped and the description was revised to become "a rather mundane humanoid face, not far off human".

Wikipedia

I would be attracted by deep things and by the soul, rather than by distances and things far off...

The New Yorker

As nurses we need to grasp the pervasive nature of this problem...NOT in some far off country, but rather, right here at home...in our own backyards.

Huffington Post

The campaign, from two Omnicom Group agencies — BBDO Worldwide and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners — promotes G.E. products like Smart Grid energy technology as "innovation you don't have to wait for" rather than far-off fantasies.

The New York Times

In a sense I'm asking what if the Multiplayer Singularity is actually about social co-ordination around sport-like activities rather than far-off dreams about everyone creating their own group online culture dream world?

TechCrunch

Rather, it focused the day's testimony like a zoom lens, starting from far off and moving in.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather far off" to describe a goal, consider specifying the aspect in which it is distant (e.g., "rather far off in terms of timeline" or "rather far off in terms of feasibility").

Common error

Avoid using "rather far off" when the subject is only slightly inaccurate or distant. The term implies a noticeable degree of separation or deviation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather far off" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the extent to which something deviates from a particular point, standard, or expectation. Ludwig indicates this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather far off" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase, functioning to indicate a noticeable degree of distance, inaccuracy, or remoteness. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. While versatile enough for various contexts, it is most frequently found in news, science, and formal business domains. The phrase implies more than a slight deviation, suggesting a significant separation from a target or expectation. Alternatives like ""quite distant"" or ""somewhat inaccurate"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite distant

Emphasizes spatial or temporal separation more directly.

somewhat inaccurate

Focuses specifically on the lack of precision or correctness.

relatively remote

Highlights the comparative isolation or inaccessibility.

fairly removed

Suggests a disconnection or detachment from a central point.

considerably off

Implies a significant deviation from a target or expectation.

distinctly separate

Highlights the clear division or lack of connection.

moderately distant

Indicates a measurable but not extreme separation.

noticeably wrong

Emphasizes the evident error or mistake.

appreciably disparate

Highlights the noticeable difference or inequality.

slightly detached

Suggests a mild form of disconnection or estrangement.

FAQs

How can I use "rather far off" in a sentence?

You can use "rather far off" to describe something distant in time, space, or accuracy. For example, "Their predictions were "somewhat inaccurate", rather far off from the actual results."

What's a good alternative to "rather far off"?

Depending on the context, you could use "quite distant", "somewhat inaccurate", or "relatively remote" as alternatives to "rather far off".

Is it better to say "rather far off" or "very far off"?

The choice between "rather far off" and "very far off" depends on the degree of distance or inaccuracy you want to convey. "Very far off" suggests a greater degree of separation than "rather far off".

What does "rather far off" imply about accuracy?

"Rather far off" suggests that something is not just slightly inaccurate but noticeably or considerably deviating from the correct value or expectation. The degree of inaccuracy is more significant than if something was described as simply "off".