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Is there a single word that defines the distance both in time and space between two points?

I am writing a long text and repeating distance and duration constantly seems weird.

I have considered gap but I am not sure if it makes sense.

I'd like to turn "The distance and duration for the jorney is 100km and 1 hour" into "The ____ for the journey is 100km and 1hour".

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    Would you accept a rather nondescript word such as "length"?
    – Mr Lister
    Commented Sep 24, 2019 at 11:32
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    Seems like there should be an easy way to avoid the issue completely because once the distance is established the duration depends on speed. I mean, as it stands, it's just a different way of saying "The journey is 100 km, and we are traveling at 100 km/h". The common phrase "the trip takes an hour" is based on assumed knowledge like highway speeds.
    – By137
    Commented Sep 24, 2019 at 11:55
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    I think regardless of the word (or lack of word) you use, you should use or, instead of and, to avoid the impression that you go 100 km, then travel an additional hour: The journey is 100 km, or 1 hour.
    – Zack
    Commented Sep 24, 2019 at 13:07
  • You're using a distance metaphor to speak of duration; that's one of the major ways English handles time reference (the other is by using a commercial transaction metaphor). If you acknowledge that, you can build a consistent referential structure; but looking for words at random is unlikely to help.
    – John Lawler
    Commented Sep 24, 2019 at 19:18
  • If you were a physicist you could use spacetime interval,
    – Stuart F
    Commented Oct 13, 2021 at 16:12

5 Answers 5

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If you need to use a word, you could use measure:

[Merriam-Webster]
1 d (1) : a measured quantity
1 d (2) : amount, degree
// giving children a greater measure of freedom

In the case of the example sentence:

The measure of the journey is 100km and 1 hour.

Note, however, that that while this is correct, it sounds somewhat old-fashioned. As was added in a comment under the question, you could simply not use a word at all:

The measure of the journey is 100 km and (takes) 1 hour.

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  • In the last sentence, I'd use "takes" rather than "is".
    – Mr Lister
    Commented Sep 24, 2019 at 13:22
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"Length"

Merriam Webster: a measured distance or dimension OR duration or extent in time

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The distance might be marked on the ground but when you are running or moving by car or whatever, each metre or kilometre is measure of the duration of changing distance. Just like seconds and hours, these are measures of duration of the motion itself. So really it is the word duration you are looking for in your sentence. It is a duration of changing distance and motion, it seems to me.

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  • Do you have a dictionary definition of duration that includes a measure of distance rather than just time?
    – KillingTime
    Commented Jul 21, 2022 at 6:04
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A common way to convey the same information is to invert the sentence and use something like "away" or "from here":

The destination is 100km or 1 hour away.

The destination is 100km or 1 hour from here.

In cities with lots of traffic, for example, it is very common to answer questions of the form "how far away is X?" in units of time: "it's about 20 minutes".

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Depending upon the specific context you have, there are a number of words that could apply to both the duration (in time) and the distance (in space) of an event. They are all applicable to both time and space. At least these may give you some other/better ideas. You might try:

  1. extent - "The range, magnitude, or distance over which a thing extends"

  2. long haul - "A long distance or a long period of time"

  3. marathon - "An event or activity that requires prolonged effort, endurance, or attention"

TFD - extent

TFD - long haul

TFD - marathon

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