total distance

USAGE SUMMARY

"total distance" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are discussing a certain amount of distance in a given context. For example: "After driving for three hours, we had covered a total distance of 150 miles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Total distance traveled: 212 miles.

The New York Times - Travel

Total distance covered: 2,300 miles.

The New Yorker

Some judges recorded the total distance covered in three jumps.

The New Yorker

Let's assume you drive the same total distance as Gladys.

The New York Times

The total distance was a bit more than 300 miles.

The New York Times

"The total distance is of stage five will be 152.5km, which is 3km less than initially planned".

The Guardian - Sport

By the crow's reckoning, the total distance between the first hamlet and the last is only about six miles.

The New York Times - Travel

What is the total distance that the bird has traveled at the moment that the two cars reach each other?

The New York Times - Health

After the three days I'd sailed a total distance of 80 nautical miles and gained my qualification.

The Guardian - Travel

The total distance was roughly 40% less.The voyage took four years to plan.

The Economist

The total distance was stretched about 250 yards to 7,467 yards.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting the "total distance" of a multi-stage journey or process, ensure that all segments are accurately measured and summed to avoid discrepancies.

Common error

Avoid using "total distance" when you actually mean displacement. "Total distance" is the sum of all path lengths traveled, while displacement is the shortest distance between the starting and ending points.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total distance" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It quantifies the overall length or extent covered during a movement or measurement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total distance" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that precisely indicates the extent of movement or separation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, supported by numerous examples across diverse sources. Its primary function is to provide a quantifiable measure, suitable for various contexts ranging from scientific research to news reporting. While generally neutral, its precision makes it apt for formal and technical discourse. Alternatives like "overall distance" or "aggregate distance" can be used depending on the specific nuance required. Remember to distinguish "total distance" from displacement to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall distance

Replaces "total" with "overall", emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the distance.

aggregate distance

Uses "aggregate" instead of "total", suggesting a combined or accumulated distance.

cumulative distance

Substitutes "total" with "cumulative", highlighting the accumulation of distance over a period or series of segments.

complete distance

Emphasizes the entirety of the distance covered, similar to "total distance".

entire distance

Similar to "complete distance", highlighting the full extent of the distance.

total length

Uses "length" instead of "distance", suitable when referring to a linear measurement.

full extent

Abstracts the idea of distance to a more general notion of extent or range.

end-to-end distance

Specifies the distance from one end to the other, implying a direct measurement.

distance covered

Focuses on the action of covering a distance, rather than the distance itself.

the distance in total

Reorders the phrase to emphasize the fact that the amount is a total.

FAQs

How is "total distance" different from displacement?

"Total distance" refers to the sum of the lengths of the path traveled, while displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the starting and ending points.

What is a good alternative to "total distance"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "overall distance", "aggregate distance", or "cumulative distance".

When should I use "total distance" instead of "total length"?

Use "total distance" when referring to the measurement between two points, especially when the path is not a straight line. Use "total length" when referring to the physical extent of an object.

How do I calculate "total distance" in a journey with multiple segments?

To calculate the "total distance", you need to add up the distances of each segment of the journey, regardless of direction or turns.