how much in advance vs how long in advance

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. 'How much in advance' is often used when referring to a specific amount of time, while 'how long in advance' is more appropriate when asking about the duration of time. Therefore, the choice between the two phrases depends on if you're asking about a specific quantity of time or the length of time.

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Last updated: March 23, 2025 • 5534 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a specific amount of time before an event or deadline.

"how much in advance"

This phrase is used when asking about the quantity or number of units of time before a particular event or deadline. It is often used in contexts where a specific time frame is being discussed.

Examples:

How much in advance should I book my flight to get the best price?
I need to know how much in advance I should submit my application for the scholarship.
Can you tell me how much in advance I need to notify the hotel about my cancellation?
How much in advance do I need to order the cake for the party?
Please let me know how much in advance I should arrive for the meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]

I wanted you to have it as much in advance as possible.
This letter sent to me a week ago. Therefore, he had to record this photo at least as much in advance.
Thank you very much in advance for your answer, Commissioner.
We do not decide in advance how much money is available per Member State or which beneficiaries will run these pan-European consultation projects.
It is therefore impossible for customers to establish in advance how much it will cost to make or receive calls abroad.
Finally, I would like to point out the danger of wishing to regulate and frame too much in advance of the start of the third phase of EMU.
I cannot say much in advance about that discussion, but the overall assessment is likely to be that Ireland's performance is in line with expectations.
This is mainly due to a penalty of EUR 6 million imposed by the Commission to one of the participating Member States for having paid too much in advances to the farmers.
It is therefore a challenge that the European society has to prepare for and if prepared well, and much in advance, it could become an opportunity for Europe to prosper faster and with greater extent of social cohesion across generations.
In order to increase efficiency in the preparation of work, the EIPPCB will inform the Forum (see Section 4.3) as much in advance as is reasonably possible of the dates/periods a TWG is expected to be reactivated or set up.
It was the fact that you announced in advance how much you were going to sell and on what day you were going to sell it.
You didn't really advance much in this lifetime.
(b) The Agency shall be notified as much in advance as possible of the expected arrival of the nuclear material, and in any case within the time limits specified in the subsidiary arrangements.
This element of certainty will not only be felt as much at the level of the Community budget but also on the farm as producers will know in advance how much premium they can expect to receive.
It is alarming to note how little real political progress has been made so far in advancing this agenda; a decision is not due now but it has not shown much advance.
Muscle cars may not have done much to advance the world.
It is important that we be seen to ensure that the reform is on track, and that means these issues being dealt with much further in advance than we are now once again seeing.
However, as I said earlier, we have a great deal to do and anyone who reads the Barnier report will see how much we can advance civil protection for the benefit of European citizens and, of course, environmental protection.
I usually advance much more quickly, but they are intent on wasting my talents doing rudimentary biochem and molecular analysis on blind samples.
We are very much in favour of specific demands for these problems to be overcome in advance of accession.

Alternatives:

how far in advance
how many days in advance
how many weeks in advance
how many hours in advance
how many months in advance

This phrase is correct and commonly used when asking about the duration of time before an event or deadline.

"how long in advance"

This phrase is used when inquiring about the length of time before a particular event or deadline. It is suitable for contexts where the focus is on the duration of the time period.

Examples:

Can you tell me how long in advance I need to book the venue for the party?
I wonder how long in advance I should start preparing for the exam.
How long in advance should I inform my manager about my vacation plans?
Please let me know how long in advance I need to schedule the appointment.
Do you know how long in advance I need to reserve a table at the restaurant?

Show examples from the web [+]

Enter how long in advance of the main alarm to display a reminder alarm.
Enter how long in advance of the main alarm to display a reminder alarm. %1
For a display alarm, check Reminder if you want to display a reminder in advance of the main alarm and of each of its recurrences (if any). Enter how long in advance using the edit controls beside the check box.
Moreover, Member States have to provide the farmers with the appropriate pre-printed application forms long in advance of the submission of the application.
Nobody knows in advance how long a suspect will be kept in police custody or for how long the person will be deprived of his/her liberty.
Well, we're going to be sending robotic missions to Mars long in advance of human missions.
That is why the market had been warned a long time in advance.
Had this extension been made known long enough in advance, producers would have had an additional year to dispose of their stock.
By analogy with air travel, while taking account of the particular circumstances of shipping, carriers should have the option of announcing a change of timetable sufficiently long in advance, so that the new timetable becomes the basis for establishing any rights to compensation.
The Moldovan Government invited international observers a long time in advance, and I hope that Members of the European Parliament will also take part in this observation mission.
Since the due date for renewal of this text was entirely predictable, there seems to be no justification for not consulting the European Parliament long enough in advance to allow it to give a more detailed opinion.
That means the killer would've had to have planned the murder a long way in advance, so one of you, who I will identify shortly, is a cold-blooded schemer.
I am convinced that the Union was right, profoundly right, to send this mission, a long time in advance, in order to bring an element of calm to this campaign.
I will know it a long time in advance, so this is certainly good news!
We hope that Libya reacts positively to the EU's efforts and labours to advance long-term, close cooperation.
No matter how long a man lives, he can't be in advance of his times.
JIV-ERIC shall advance very long baseline interferometry between the telescopes of the partners of the EVN and other networks.
He will probably be killed in the ring... long before he advances from novillero to matador.
Holding companies are thus authorised to grant long- or short-term advances and loans to companies in which they directly hold a participation.
Efficient and effective allocation of spectrum will provide more social, cultural and economic benefits, boost consumer choice, advance the long term competitiveness of European industries and contribute to the realisation of the digital internal market.

Alternatives:

how early in advance
how much time in advance
how many days in advance
how many weeks in advance
how many hours in advance

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how much in advance vs how long in advance

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