as far as vs. all the way

[CarloSsS]

Is there any difference between "as far as" and "all the way" in the following sentences? For me, the meaning is basically the same, but I feel that "all the way" refers to the whole track from one point to the other (A to B), while "as far as" refers only to the final point (B).

You could see the light all the way to my apartment. (You could see the ray of the light from its origin all the way to its final point (in my apartment)).
You could see the light as far as my apartment. (You could see the spot of the light even in my apartment)

[SoothingDave]

"All the way to my apartment" isn't right. It implies that you can literally see the beam of light the entire path it traveled. You might say "you could see the light from my apartment."

For the second, "as far away as" sounds better to me, but you can omit the "away."

[CarloSsS]

"All the way to my apartment" isn't right. It implies that you can literally see the beam of light the entire path it traveled. You might say "you could see the light from my apartment."

Thank you for your answer Dave.
One thing I don't understand: what's wrong with literally seeing the trajectory of the beam of light? I think that can happen in certain circumstances.

[charliedeut]

Hi CarloSsS,

Certainly, under certain circumstances everything is hypothetically possible. But I guess you were just asking for the common usage of those expressions, which I believe SoothingDave already did.

charliedeut