ways away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ways away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a distance or a significant amount of time before something happens. Example: "The nearest gas station is a few ways away, so we should fill up before we leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Sports

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

That's a long ways away, the Bronx.

The New York Times

We're a little bit of a ways away".

The New York Times - Sports

November, however, is a long ways away in political time.

The New York Times

Another question: "December 6th seems like a really long ways away.

The New York Times

"That's something that's, you know, quite a far ways away," he said.

The New York Times

"We are still a ways away from seeing what this management team can do".

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Any war seemed a long way away.

Independent

Miami seems a long way away.

The New York Times

The playoffs felt a long way away.

The New York Times - Sports

"But that's a long way away".

The New York Times

Oregon's a long way away".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ways away" to emphasize that something is not immediately reachable, either in terms of physical distance or time. For example, "The completion of the project is still a few "ways away".

Common error

While "ways away" is acceptable in many situations, avoid it in highly formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. Alternatives like "distant" or "remote" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ways away" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate distance, either spatial or temporal. It describes how far something is, as Ludwig AI confirms, and appears across various types of texts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Tech

15%

Sports

13%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ways away" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that something is not close, either spatially or temporally. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While very common in news, tech, and sports contexts, it's less frequent in formal or academic settings. When writing, remember that while grammatically sound and widely understood, choosing a more precise term might enhance clarity in formal discourse. Consider alternatives like "considerable distance" or "significant time" to maintain formality. Steer clear of overusing it in academic papers or business reports to ensure your message remains clear and professional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far off

A more concise way of expressing that something is distant in time or space.

quite distant

Simple and direct way to express remoteness.

some distance off

Specifies an indefinite but noticeable distance.

a considerable distance

Emphasizes the extent of the distance involved.

off in the future

Specifically refers to something happening at a later time.

a significant time off

Highlights the length of time before an event.

a good stretch

Informal way to describe a long distance or time.

at a remove

Suggests a separation or detachment, either physically or metaphorically.

in the distance

Indicates something is visible but not close.

down the road

Idiomatic expression for a future time.

FAQs

How can I use "ways away" in a sentence?

You can use "ways away" to describe something that is distant in either space or time. For example, "The nearest town is a long "ways away"" or "The release date is still a "ways away"".

What's a more formal alternative to "ways away"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "considerable distance" or "significant time". These alternatives provide a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

Is "ways away" only used for physical distance?

No, "ways away" can refer to both physical and temporal distance. It can describe something far in space, such as "The summit is still "ways away"", or something far in time, such as "The next election is "ways away"".

What is the difference between "far off" and "ways away"?

"Far off" and "ways away" are quite similar, both indicating distance. "Far off" might suggest a greater sense of remoteness or unlikelihood compared to "ways away".