Master confusing words with ease
A long way vs. A long ways
A long way
/ə lɔŋ weɪ/Examples:
The new policy will go a long way toward resolving issues.The funds raised will go a long way in supporting local charities.Her gratitude went a long way in easing tensions.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
A long ways
/ə lɔːŋ weɪz/Examples:
Her cabin is still a long ways down the trail.He's come a long ways since we first met.A long ways from home, she felt lost but excited.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- A long way indicates a distance or gap, either physical or metaphorical, and is used in formal contexts.
- A long ways is considered informal and is often heard in spoken American English.
- Remember that a long way is the traditional and widely accepted phrase in both writing and speech.
- Use way singularly when you think of it as a direction or path — similar to a long trip.
- A way suggests a singular, straightforward path, whereas ways implies multiple paths, but in this context, ways is just an informal variation.
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