the next town

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the next town" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the town that is immediately adjacent or following the current location in a sequence or direction. Example: "After driving for an hour, we finally reached the next town, where we stopped for lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"There's another hotel in the next town.

The New York Times - Travel

The next town probably knows, too.

The New York Times - Arts

And all in our town or the next town.

The New York Times

… to "Wakefield Memorial High School" in the next town.

MIT Technology Review

In 1998, the next town is not nearly far enough.

The New York Times

At the next town hall, she fared worse.

The New Yorker

The next town of note: Pearisburg, Va., 150 miles away.

The New York Times - Travel

The group then travels by bus to the next town to explore anew.

The New York Times - Travel

We always had a big rivalry with Point Pleasant Borough High, in the next town.

The New York Times

They move to the next village, the next town and eventually to a city".

The New York Times

It would not be decided in the Quinlans' bungalow, in the next town over.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the next town" to create a sense of anticipation or progression in narratives and storytelling.

Common error

Avoid capitalizing "the", "next", or "town" unless it's part of a proper noun or title. Incorrect: The Next Town. Correct: "The next town" we visited was small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the next town" functions as a determiner phrase identifying a specific, subsequent location. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across varied contexts, denoting a place along a route or in proximity to a known location.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Travel

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

8%

Science

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "the next town" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a subsequent location. According to Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and travel contexts, serving to provide directional or locational information in a neutral register. While variations like "the nearby town" or "the adjacent town" exist, "the next town" remains a straightforward and widely understood way to refer to a proximate settlement. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the adjacent town

Emphasizes the immediate proximity of the town.

the following town

Highlights the sequential order of the town in a journey or list.

the nearby town

Focuses on the closeness and accessibility of the town.

the next village

Replaces "town" with "village", indicating a smaller settlement.

the subsequent town

Stresses the town's position as coming after the current one.

the neighboring town

Suggests a town that shares a border or is located close by.

the next city

Substitutes "town" with "city", implying a larger urban area.

the next locality

Uses a more formal term, "locality", for the area.

the next municipality

Employs the official term "municipality" for the administrative area.

the next community

Replaces "town" with "community", focusing on the social aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "the next town" in a sentence?

You can use "the next town" to indicate a location further along a route or journey. For example, "We decided to stop in "the next town" to rest."

What are some alternatives to saying "the next town"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "the nearby town", "the adjacent town", or "the following town".

Is it correct to say "the next town over" instead of "the next town"?

Yes, "the next town over" is a common and acceptable variation of "the next town", often used to emphasize that the town is in a slightly different area or direction.

What's the difference between "the next town" and "the next city"?

"The next town" refers to a smaller settlement, whereas "the next city" implies a larger urban area. The choice depends on the size and status of the location you're referring to.