thousands of miles

USAGE SUMMARY

"thousands of miles" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It refers to a large numerical measurement of distance and can be used in various contexts. Example: The explorers traveled thousands of miles in search of a new trade route. In this sentence, "thousands of miles" emphasizes the vast distance the explorers traveled. It could also be used in other contexts such as distance between two cities ("The flight from New York to Tokyo is thousands of miles long") or the length of a road trip ("We drove thousands of miles across the country").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I was two weeks shy of my 28th birthday, unemployed, broke, thousands of miles from my family, watching the weather forecast to see how uncomfortable sleeping outside would be that night.

The New York Times

Thousands of miles".

The New Yorker

"Thousands of miles," he said.

The New Yorker

She travels thousands of miles annually.

The New York Times

A swell can travel thousands of miles.

The New Yorker

Again the salmon swim thousands of miles.

The New Yorker

My husband is thousands of miles away.

The New York Times - Travel

"You've got thousands of miles of pipe.

The New York Times

Donors often live thousands of miles apart.

The New York Times

A contest thousands of miles away?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The odometer registers the distance traveled by the vehicle; it consists of a train of gears (with a gear ratio of 1,000 1) that causes a drum, graduated in 10ths of a mile or kilometre, to make one turn per mile or kilometre.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "thousands of miles" to convey a sense of substantial distance without needing to specify an exact number. For example, instead of saying 'The journey was 3,500 miles', you can say 'The journey was thousands of miles'.

Common error

Avoid using "thousands of miles" when precision is necessary. If an exact mileage is crucial for the context, provide the specific number instead of generalizing with "thousands of miles".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "thousands of miles" functions as a quantifier specifying distance. It modifies nouns to indicate a significant separation, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "travel "thousands of miles"" and ""thousands of miles" away".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "thousands of miles" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a substantial distance. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability across contexts. It is most commonly found in news and media, science, and general wiki content, as confirmed in the examples. While it effectively conveys a large distance without precision, it should be avoided when exact measurements are required. Related phrases like "vast distances" or "considerable distances" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. Overall, "thousands of miles" is a versatile and reliable way to describe significant separations in various forms of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vast distances

Emphasizes the largeness of the distances involved.

considerable distances

Highlights that the distances are noteworthy or significant.

substantial distances

Similar to 'considerable distances', but slightly more formal.

great expanses

Focuses on the open and wide nature of the distance.

extensive stretches

Implies a continuous and unbroken distance.

numerous miles

Highlights that the number of miles is significant, though less precise.

significant separation

Focuses on the act of being separated by a large distance.

a far cry

Indicates a significant difference or distance between two things or places.

worlds apart

Emphasizes a metaphorical distance, implying a vast difference in conditions or experiences.

a long way off

Suggests that something is a significant distance away, either literally or figuratively.

FAQs

How can I use "thousands of miles" in a sentence?

You can use "thousands of miles" to describe large distances. For instance, "They traveled "thousands of miles" to reach their destination" or "The two cities are "thousands of miles" apart".

What phrases are similar to "thousands of miles"?

Similar phrases include "vast distances", "considerable distances", or "substantial distances", each emphasizing a significant separation.

Is it appropriate to use "thousands of miles" in formal writing?

Yes, "thousands of miles" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to convey a general sense of a large distance without needing to be precise. It is commonly used in news articles, scientific reports, and business documents.

What's the difference between "hundreds of miles" and "thousands of miles"?

"Hundreds of miles" indicates a distance ranging from 100 to 999 miles, while "thousands of miles" indicates a distance of 1,000 miles or more. The choice depends on the specific distance you want to convey; use the latter for greater distances.