spaced apart

USAGE SUMMARY

"spaced apart" can be used in written English to express that two or more people, objects, or events are separated by either physical or temporal distance.
For example, "The two cities are spaced apart by more than 200 miles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Turbines must be adequately spaced apart to avoid turbulence.

The New York Times

Return the wings to the tray, again spaced apart, and roast for 15 minutes more.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Its power, phone and cable TV outlets are spaced apart like farmhouses in Iowa.

The New York Times - Tech

Arrange the almonds over the bottom and the sides, spaced apart.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Make sure that the cookies are spaced apart to allow for spreading while baking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Heat your grill pan and lay the lamb on top, well spaced apart.

Independent

Arrange spaced apart in the hot oil (cook fish in batches if pan is small or fillets are large).

The New York Times - Magazine

Over the brushed surface, place 12 teaspoon-sized dollops of jam evenly spaced apart with a 1cm border.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In recent years, as policing has evaporated, the nets have become taller and are no longer spaced apart.

The Guardian

Marclay found that a few clips of a film, spaced apart, could create effects more trenchant than the original movie.

The New Yorker

The microtips present solid angles of 54.7°, a height of 100 200 μm and 2 μm spaced apart.

Medical Engineering & Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical arrangements, ensure that the context clarifies whether "spaced apart" refers to equal or unequal distances. Use additional qualifiers if necessary for precision.

Common error

Avoid using "spaced apart" with redundant adverbs of location. For instance, phrases like "spaced apart here" or "spaced apart there" can be made more concise by simply saying "spaced here" or "spaced there".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spaced apart" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the arrangement of objects or entities, indicating they are separated by some distance. As Ludwig AI explains, its use is grammatically sound in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spaced apart" is a versatile phrase used to describe items that are separated by some distance, whether physically or temporally. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Scientific contexts, indicating its broad applicability across different registers. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies the nature and evenness of the spacing. Also, avoid redundancy with adverbs of location. Alternatives like "separated" or "distributed" can be used depending on the intended nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Separated by distance

Explicitly mentions distance as the cause of separation.

Distant from each other

Stresses the lack of proximity between items.

Spread out

Highlights the action of dispersing items over a wider area.

Set apart

Emphasizes distinction or being different rather than just physical distance.

Kept at a distance

Suggests a deliberate act of maintaining separation.

Distributed evenly

Focuses on the evenness of the separation.

Isolated from one another

Emphasizes the lack of connection or interaction.

Positioned separately

Highlights the act of placing items in distinct locations.

Not adjacent

Highlights the lack of immediate nearness.

Interval between

Focuses on the space itself separating the objects.

FAQs

How can I use "spaced apart" in a sentence?

You can use "spaced apart" to describe physical arrangements, such as "The trees were "spaced apart" to allow for sunlight" or to describe events that are separated in time, such as "The meetings were "spaced apart" by several weeks".

What's the difference between "spaced apart" and "spread out"?

"Spaced apart" generally implies a more deliberate or uniform separation, while "spread out" suggests a less organized or more expansive distribution. For example, you might say items were ""spaced apart"" on a shelf but "spread out" across a field.

What can I say instead of "spaced apart"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "separated", "distributed", or "isolated". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "equally spaced apart"?

While commonly used, "equally "spaced apart"" can be considered slightly redundant, as "spaced apart" often implies a degree of evenness. However, it's generally acceptable, especially if emphasizing the equal separation.