a highest rate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a highest rate" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "the highest rate" when referring to a specific rate that is the greatest among others. Example: "The company achieved the highest rate of customer satisfaction in the industry last year."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

GATA6 methylation occurred at a highest rate.

BMC Cancer

Interestingly, patients with abnormal gastrointestinal functions are prone to develop diarrhoea under sorafenib (Lauritano et al, 2009), and patients with abnormal liver functions have a highest rate of diarrhoea without elevated exposure (Miller et al, 2009; Michels et al, 2010).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That's a high rate of success.

The New York Times - Magazine

Any second homes attract a higher rate.

The Guardian - Money

Britain has a higher rate at 18.5.

The New York Times

Smaller regional airlines misplace bags at a higher rate.

The New York Times

They recognized that a higher rate was justified".

The New York Times

Maybe it had reset to a higher rate.

The New York Times

I think Jersey has a higher rate of activity participation.

The Guardian

The United Kingdom has a higher rate at 18.5.

The New York Times

"The new printer is charging us a higher rate".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the maximum or uppermost level of something, use "the highest rate" instead of "a highest rate" for grammatical correctness. For example, "The company achieved the highest rate of customer satisfaction."

Common error

Avoid using the indefinite article ("a" or "an") before superlative adjectives like "highest". Superlatives typically refer to a unique maximum, requiring the definite article ("the"). Incorrect: "a highest score". Correct: "the highest score".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a highest rate" functions as a noun phrase, attempting to identify a maximum value or proportion. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is "the highest rate."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a highest rate" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English, as flagged by Ludwig AI. The correct form is "the highest rate". Although some examples exist in science and news media, it's best to avoid using "a highest rate" in formal writing. More suitable alternatives include "the maximum rate" or "the peak rate". When aiming for accuracy and clarity, particularly in professional or academic contexts, using the definite article with the superlative adjective is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the highest rate

Uses the definite article "the" to denote a specific, maximum rate, ensuring grammatical correctness.

peak rate

Replaces "highest" with "peak", suggesting a maximum level attained at a specific point in time.

maximum rate

Substitutes "highest" with "maximum", conveying the uppermost limit of a rate.

topmost rate

Replaces "highest" with "topmost", indicating the rate occupying the highest position or rank.

the uppermost rate

Uses "uppermost" to specify the rate at the highest point or degree.

the greatest rate

Employs "greatest" to denote the rate that is the largest or most significant.

the ultimate rate

Substitutes "highest" with "ultimate", indicating the final or most extreme rate.

the supreme rate

Uses "supreme" to describe the rate that is the highest in authority or rank.

the premium rate

Implies a rate that is superior or of higher quality, often associated with exclusivity.

the record rate

Indicates a rate that surpasses all previous measurements or achievements.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a highest rate"?

The grammatically correct way to express "a highest rate" is to use "the highest rate". The definite article "the" should be used before a superlative adjective like "highest".

Is it ever correct to say "a highest rate"?

While you might find instances of "a highest rate", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's best to use "the highest rate" instead.

What are some alternatives to "a highest rate"?

Alternatives to "a highest rate" include "the peak rate", "the maximum rate", or "the top rate", depending on the context. These alternatives are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning.

What is the difference between "a highest rate" and "the highest rate"?

"A highest rate" is grammatically incorrect. "The highest rate" is the correct form when referring to a specific, maximum rate. Using "the" indicates that you are referring to a particular rate that is the greatest among others.