Cool MateA bit out of the way vs Remote
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A bit out of the way
Top 3,000 (common)
Remote
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1adjective
Most common: A bit out of the way
| A bit out of the way | Remote | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə bɪt aʊt əv ðə weɪ//🇺🇸 //ə bɪt aʊt əv ðə weɪ// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not in the usual or direct path. | Far away or not near. |
| Example | The restaurant is a bit out of the way, but it's worth the trip. | She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | a bit out of the way, drive a bit out of the way, located a bit out of the way | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from |
| Antonyms | - | near, close, local |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'out of the ordinary' which has a different meaning., Using it to describe people instead of places., Not using it for locations that are slightly inconvenient. | Confused with 'remotely' which has a different grammatical use., Using 'remotes' as a plural, when 'remote' is often uncountable in this context. |
| Usage notes | Use in everyday conversation to describe a place that is not easily accessible. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'remote' to describe something that is far away in distance or time. It's suitable in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid informal situations where a more direct term might be preferred. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: A bit out of the way vs Remote
What's the difference between A bit out of the way and Remote?
A bit out of the way: Not in the usual or direct path. Remote: Far away or not near.
Which is more common: A bit out of the way and Remote?
A bit out of the way is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
A bit out of the way: The restaurant is a bit out of the way, but it's worth the trip. Remote: She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job.
Can I use A bit out of the way and Remote interchangeably?
Not always. A bit out of the way and Remote are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.