a rather cooler

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather cooler" is not correct in standard written English.
It can be used when comparing temperatures or describing a situation that is somewhat cooler than another. Example: "The weather today is a rather cooler than it was yesterday, making it more comfortable for a walk."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These two canyons represent similar ecological sites, at a distance of 40 km, in which the orientation of the sun yields a strong sun-exposed and hot 'African' south-facing slope versus a rather cooler and mesic-lush 'European' north-facing slope within a distance of only 50 400 m.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But frequently what it most obviously evokes is a rather cool ambivalence.

The Guardian - Music

I'd rather somebody watch me smoking a rather cool e-cigarette product than a dirty, boring traditional cigarette".

The Guardian

MAY -- I can't help but notice that you have a rather cool, sophisticated, almost snotty attitude.

The New York Times

But the levy is not high enough to cover the demands on the PBGC hence the huge deficit.Unsurprisingly, companies gave the proposal a rather cool reception.

The Economist

"In truth," he confided, "my recent past, and the gossip to which it had given rise, resulted in a rather cool reception from some of these colleagues".

The Economist

It was just a rather cool way of getting off with each other!" They live in north London with their three children.

Independent

The Vice President received a rather cool reception this past weekend and was publicly told that the internal affairs of Iraq are none of the US's business.

The New York Times

It's a video editing app that offers a rather cool trick: the ability to slow a movie clip down to super slow motion, like the effects you get in sports videos shown on TV.

The New York Times

On my way to the game I saw a man with a rather cool T-shirt bearing the legend: "Der Ball ist rund" and a picture of a leather ball.

The Guardian - Sport

This fantasy relationship between boy and penguin is redolent of ET. But where Spielberg can't resist a nice sweet cherry on top "ET go home", Dougal Wilson has created a rather cool, stubborn little pal in the penguin.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal or precise language, consider alternatives like "somewhat cooler" or "slightly cooler" instead of "a rather cooler".

Common error

Avoid combining "a rather" with comparative adjectives unnecessarily. While sometimes acceptable, it can often sound awkward or less natural than simpler alternatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase primarily functions as a comparative, attempting to describe something as being at a lower temperature relative to something else. As noted by Ludwig, it's not standard English. The example provided by Ludwig reinforces its comparative function, but its infrequency suggests limited use.

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

The phrase "a rather cooler" attempts to express a comparative degree of coolness, but as Ludwig points out, it isn't considered standard English. With just one exact example found, its frequency is rare. While aiming for a more formal tone, it falls short of grammatical correctness. Alternatives like "somewhat cooler" or "slightly cooler" are generally preferred for clarity and grammatical accuracy. When aiming for precision and formality, it's best to steer clear of "a rather cooler" and opt for more conventional alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat cooler

Replaces "a rather" with "somewhat" to suggest a slight degree of coolness.

slightly cooler

Uses "slightly" to indicate a small difference in temperature.

a bit cooler

Employs "a bit" for a more informal and less precise measurement of coolness.

noticeably cooler

Highlights that the coolness is easily perceived or evident.

appreciably cooler

Suggests that the difference in coolness is significant or worthwhile.

distinctly cooler

Emphasizes a clear and unambiguous difference in coolness.

moderately cooler

Indicates a medium level of coolness, avoiding extremes.

relatively cooler

Positions the coolness in comparison to something else, establishing a relative difference.

measurably cooler

Highlights that the difference in coolness can be quantified or measured.

perceptibly cooler

Similar to noticeably cooler, emphasizing ease of perception.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "a rather cooler"?

Alternatives such as "somewhat cooler" or "slightly cooler" offer clearer and more conventional phrasing.

In what contexts might I use "a rather cooler"?

While not always ideal, you might encounter it in informal speech or writing where a less precise comparative is acceptable. However, for formal writing, it's best to opt for alternatives.

Is "a rather cooler" technically incorrect?

Ludwig AI flags "a rather cooler" as not quite standard English, suggesting that while understandable, it isn't the most grammatically sound choice.

How does "a rather cooler" compare to "a bit cooler"?

"A bit cooler" is more informal and generally preferred in casual conversation. "A rather cooler" attempts a more formal tone but isn't as grammatically smooth.