then far

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "then far" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a comparison or distance, but without additional context, it is unclear how to use it appropriately. Example: "The journey seemed long, but then far away, the mountains appeared."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Then Far Cry 3 came along and that stuck.

The Guardian - Tech

Back to the day job, then, far removed from the romantic comedy of Samba.

Independent

You ping-pong between Noguchi's seven elements, looking at them up close, then far away.

The New Yorker

His comedy is based on provocation; pushing things to the edge and then far beyond.

Independent

Then, far from the action, he lost his balance and fell.

The New York Times - Sports

Since then, far more questions have been raised about his ethical and financial background.

The New York Times

Since then, far more aircraft have been shown to have been involved in the operation.

The Guardian

She was, even then, far less personally and politically defenceless than she seemed.

The Guardian

Then, far off, came the wail of a storm siren to warn of possible danger.

The New York Times - Science

A temperate man, the RBI governor seems, if not actually disgruntled, then far from gruntled, as Wodehouse would say.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

That blunt comment - made before the 2005 riots - encouraged some critics to put him in the same category as the then far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance the meaning, consider using "then, far from" to establish a contrast or to indicate something is the opposite of what was expected.

Common error

Avoid using "then far" without proper context. It often needs to be followed by "from" or another preposition to create a complete thought. Without this context, it can sound incomplete or grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then far" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a degree of distance or contrast related to a previous point in time. Ludwig AI notes that this usage often requires additional context, typically a preposition like "from", to fully convey the intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "then far" appears with relative frequency in diverse sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically questionable without sufficient context. Its main function is to indicate distance or contrast after a specific point in time. For clarity, alternatives like "then distant" or "then remote" are often preferable. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, and it is essential to ensure proper construction, typically including a preposition like "from", to avoid ambiguity. The high frequency in varied contexts suggests that while generally interpretable it requires consideration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

then distant

Replaces "far" with "distant" to emphasize spatial or metaphorical separation in time.

then remote

Substitutes "far" with "remote", highlighting the idea of being far removed or unlikely.

at that point

Uses "at that point" to focus on a specific moment in time with implied distance.

subsequently much

Employs "subsequently much" to convey a greater degree or extent following a point in time.

later much

Replaces "then far" with "later much" to indicate a significant extent after a certain time.

then considerably

Changes "far" to "considerably" to indicate a substantial amount or degree at that time.

at that time significantly

Uses "at that time significantly" to show a notable change or difference at a certain moment.

afterward greatly

Replaces "then far" with "afterward greatly" to emphasize a large extent following an event.

thereafter greatly

Substitutes "then far" with "thereafter greatly" to suggest a large degree in the time that follows.

eventually much

Employs "eventually much" to highlight the significant degree that comes in time.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "then far" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "then far" usually requires a prepositional phrase like "from" to make sense. For example, "Then, far from the city, we found peace."

What are some alternatives to "then far"?

Alternatives include "then distant", "then remote", or "subsequently much" depending on the context.

Is "then far" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "then far" is not correct and requires additional context or revision for grammatical accuracy.

What's the difference between "then far" and "so far"?

"Then far" typically implies distance or contrast after a certain point, while "so far" indicates progress or extent up to the present moment.