very far behind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very far behind" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant lag or delay in progress, performance, or development compared to others. Example: "After missing several deadlines, the team found themselves very far behind in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have to admit: We have fallen very far behind," Mr. Chubais said, according to The Associated Press.

The New York Times

"The city is very far behind," said Marilyn K. Shea, the regional administrator of the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, and the federal official who oversees the jobs program in New York and New Jersey.

The New York Times

"Their football is very far behind but bit by bit we're trying to pick up what's out there and mould them into proper national team.

BBC

"If you start talking about the greatest players in this league, his name is not going to be very far behind," Gentry said about Bryant.

Los Angeles Times

"The U.S. is very far behind," said Kellan Baker, the associate director of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender progress at the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank.

Huffington Post

Very far behind.

The New York Times - Arts

This is clear: It is very far behind the iPad.

The New York Times

The question is: are we very far behind?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Curtice says they are very far behind with women.

The Guardian

It's a relatively new innovation and, by comparison, helmet standards and testing are very far behind.

Stanford University

Rumour, prejudice, cant and hatred are never very far behind a collapsing economy.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "very far behind" with stronger verbs or more descriptive adjectives to enhance impact and avoid redundancy, such as "significantly lagging" or "considerably trailing".

Common error

Avoid pairing "very far behind" with other intensifiers (e.g., 'extremely very far behind'). This creates redundancy and weakens the statement. Instead, focus on quantifying the extent of the lag or delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very far behind" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically describing the extent to which something lags or trails in comparison to something else. It indicates a significant degree of отставание. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

14%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "very far behind" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to emphasize a substantial отставание or lag. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans various contexts, from news and media to academic and scientific writing. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, consider using stronger verbs or descriptive adjectives for enhanced impact, avoiding redundancy. Be mindful of the context to ensure clear communication of what is being compared. While grammatically correct the bot emphasizes that it is a useful phrase that requires a specific context and more alternatives words exists.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly lagging

Emphasizes the degree of being behind as substantial or noteworthy.

considerably trailing

Highlights the act of following at a substantial distance.

substantially behind

Stresses the magnitude of the difference or gap.

well behind schedule

Specifically indicates being behind in terms of a planned timeline.

far off the pace

Implies a significant disparity in speed or progress compared to leaders.

a long way back

Suggests a considerable distance or amount of progress needed to catch up.

not even close

Emphasizes the large gap and lack of proximity in achievement or progress.

lagging significantly

Focuses on the ongoing nature of lagging with a marked degree.

trailing by a large margin

Indicates a considerable difference between two entities where one follows the other.

falling well short

Implies that the current state is insufficient or inadequate to meet expectations.

FAQs

How can I use "very far behind" in a sentence?

You can use "very far behind" to describe a state of lagging significantly compared to others, such as "The project is "very far behind" schedule" or "Our technology is "very far behind" our competitors".

What can I say instead of "very far behind"?

You can use alternatives like "significantly lagging", "considerably trailing", or "substantially behind", depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "very far behind" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "very far behind" can sometimes be replaced with more precise or formal language in academic or business contexts. Consider using alternatives that quantify the difference or delay more specifically.

What's the difference between "far behind" and "very far behind"?

The addition of "very" intensifies the degree to which something is lagging. "Far behind" indicates a noticeable lag, while "very far behind" emphasizes a significant and substantial difference.