a degree higher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a degree higher" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing levels, intensities, or measurements, indicating something is elevated by one degree in a specific context. Example: "The temperature today is a degree higher than it was yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Women run about half a degree higher after ovulation.

The New York Times - Health

The air system has been at level orange, a degree higher, since August 2006.

The New York Times

Robin Speakman at Shore Capital said: This sum is a degree higher than we had anticipated, we had thought it would be closer to $1.2bn.

The Guardian - Business

Wood denied falsifying Cafferkey's temperature, which a fellow volunteer recorded as over 38C, a degree higher than average body temperature and a potential early warning sign of Ebola.

The Guardian

They found about 60% of mature sperm swam in the general direction of the gradient, even when the temperature was only half a degree higher.

Science Magazine

It can be seen from Table 2 that the IC50 value of the PTX-loaded CA-PLA-TPGS nanoparticles on MCF-7 cells was 46.63 μg/mL, which was a degree higher than that of Taxol® after 24 h of incubation.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

However, the increase seen for SHOX Exon 2a was to a considerable degree higher (32.2x vs. 4.1x).

Plosone

A proper modality is of degree higher than zero.

SEP

That compared with one in five of those with a degree or higher.

The Guardian - Business

Apply for a degree in higher education.

WikiHow

She carried her chin a few degrees higher than most.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a degree higher" when you want to express a small but noticeable increase or difference between two comparable things. Ensure the context clearly indicates what scale or measurement is being referenced.

Common error

Avoid using "a degree higher" without specifying the unit or scale being measured. For example, instead of saying "The risk is a degree higher", specify "The risk is a degree higher on a scale of 1 to 10".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a degree higher" primarily functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by indicating that something is elevated by one degree on a given scale. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a degree higher" is a grammatically correct and usable comparative phrase, primarily used to indicate a slight increase or difference. Ludwig confirms its acceptability. It is most frequently found in scientific, news, and formal contexts. While versatile, it’s important to provide context by specifying what scale or measurement is being referenced to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "slightly elevated" or "one level higher" can be used depending on the desired formality and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one level higher

Specifically indicates moving to the next level in a structured hierarchy.

a grade above

Commonly used in academic or evaluative contexts.

slightly elevated

Focuses on a small increase, more subtle than the original phrase.

marginally increased

Formal, emphasizes a small increase in a measured quantity.

slightly surpassing

Emphasizes exceeding a specific limit or expectation by a small amount.

a notch up

Informal, implies a small, incremental increase in level.

incrementally higher

Focuses on the process of gradually increasing over time.

somewhat greater

Highlights that something is larger or more significant to some extent.

a step above

Indicates advancement to a superior level or rank.

a cut above

Implies that something is of superior quality or status.

FAQs

How can I use "a degree higher" in a sentence?

You can use "a degree higher" to show a slight increase or elevation in something, such as "The temperature is "a degree higher" today" or "The difficulty level is "a degree higher" than expected".

What's the difference between "a degree higher" and "much higher"?

"A degree higher" implies a small, incremental increase, while "much higher" indicates a significantly larger difference. Use ""a degree higher"" when the change is subtle and "much higher" when the change is substantial.

Is it more formal to say "a degree higher" or "slightly elevated"?

"Slightly elevated" is generally considered more formal than ""a degree higher"". Choose "slightly elevated" for professional or academic writing, and "a degree higher" for more casual contexts.

Can I use "a degree higher" to describe emotional states?

Yes, you can use ""a degree higher"" metaphorically to describe emotional states, but ensure the context is clear. For example, "Her anxiety was "a degree higher" before the presentation".