These days people can’t seem to envision distance very well. So they don’t really care “how far” something is, but rather “how long” does it take. You probably don’t know actually know what the measured distance is to the nearest grocery store is from your home, but you know how long it takes to get there. Whether that’s by foot, bicycle, bus, train, car or plane.
You have a better mental image of time rather than distance. So it’s easier to envision for you. Time seems to be a much more used everyday measurement for travel. And does away with needing to know how many “hogshead per mile” or “baguettes per kilometer” a destination might be. After all, that’s most likely someone else’s problem and not yours. Is it the best way? I personally don’t think so, but it’s a common method.
Well, in the USA perhaps. You do hear things like “ten-minute walk away” elsewhere but if you just say “it’s ten minutes away”, you may as well say something like “it’ll be three o’clock when you leave”. And of course, if you only ever drive, you could be averaging 2mph or 100mph, so a ten-minute drive away isn’t even one distance. Means nothing.
Edit: just seen your other comment saying how far away things are in miles and now I have an idea, as if to illustrate what I mean. I remember being a kid and my dad telling me “xyz is one mile away” and it’s been locked in ever since.
OK, so without looking it up. What is the distance between New York City and Seattle? Or Berlin and Paris? You don’t really know how far nor can you “see” that distance in your mind. But you have a really good idea how long such a trip will take.
And like most things in day to day life, the context of the discussion is the indication of travel. Again, you probably can’t say exactly how far away the store is, but you do know how long it takes you to get there by foot, bus, train, car, or airplane. Think about how you actually talk about such things in a normal, everyday conversation. When asked, do you tell everyone that the grocery store is 1.2 miles/1.93Km away?
These days people can’t seem to envision distance very well. So they don’t really care “how far” something is, but rather “how long” does it take. You probably don’t know actually know what the measured distance is to the nearest grocery store is from your home, but you know how long it takes to get there. Whether that’s by foot, bicycle, bus, train, car or plane.
You have a better mental image of time rather than distance. So it’s easier to envision for you. Time seems to be a much more used everyday measurement for travel. And does away with needing to know how many “hogshead per mile” or “baguettes per kilometer” a destination might be. After all, that’s most likely someone else’s problem and not yours. Is it the best way? I personally don’t think so, but it’s a common method.
Well, in the USA perhaps. You do hear things like “ten-minute walk away” elsewhere but if you just say “it’s ten minutes away”, you may as well say something like “it’ll be three o’clock when you leave”. And of course, if you only ever drive, you could be averaging 2mph or 100mph, so a ten-minute drive away isn’t even one distance. Means nothing.
Edit: just seen your other comment saying how far away things are in miles and now I have an idea, as if to illustrate what I mean. I remember being a kid and my dad telling me “xyz is one mile away” and it’s been locked in ever since.
OK, so without looking it up. What is the distance between New York City and Seattle? Or Berlin and Paris? You don’t really know how far nor can you “see” that distance in your mind. But you have a really good idea how long such a trip will take.
And like most things in day to day life, the context of the discussion is the indication of travel. Again, you probably can’t say exactly how far away the store is, but you do know how long it takes you to get there by foot, bus, train, car, or airplane. Think about how you actually talk about such things in a normal, everyday conversation. When asked, do you tell everyone that the grocery store is 1.2 miles/1.93Km away?
I don’t in fact! But I’d still guess those distances in units of distance, personally!
I thought I’d already told you we say things like “ten-minute walk away”? “My nearest supermarket is about 350 yards away” is what I’d say.