a rather higher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather higher" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used when comparing levels or degrees, but the correct form would be "a rather high" or "rather higher than." Example: "The new model is a rather higher version of the previous one."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

On the contrary, they showed that Mr Simon had paid a rather higher share of tax than many rich people.

The Economist

Thus he made it clear that the health of the carbon market took a rather higher priority than the health of the climate system.

The Guardian - Opinion

In English poetry, with its reliance on masculine rhymes, rhymes themselves are harder to find, and they have a rather higher degree of significance.

The Guardian - Books

A rather higher rate would seem necessary in order to cover the ballooning cost America's entitlement programmes.From the left, the objection to a VAT is that it's regressive.

The Economist

"That day he came out of Robben Island and stood there and forgave everybody, I just thought: 'This is Jesus.' I don't regard him as a political hero – I think he's on a rather higher plane than that".

The Guardian

I think they were both used to a rather higher order of media probing than I was able to muster, but still I came away with everything I needed by way of quotes and more, and with, above all, an abiding respect and affection for these two remarkable people.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Perhaps for that reason, it has a rather high degree of difficulty as a business proposition.

The New York Times - Magazine

Many people would consider four orgies a year a rather high toll.

The New Yorker

"A rather high percentage of students are not interested in politics," he said.

The New York Times

Photograph: Murdo Macleod Funding for the arts has been a rather high-profile issue lately.

The Guardian

Earlier studies report a rather high heritability for ADHD of about 76%.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, consider using alternatives like "slightly higher" or "somewhat higher" for improved clarity.

Common error

Be aware that "a rather higher" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Use "a rather high" or "rather higher than" for accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather higher" functions as a comparative, attempting to describe something as elevated to a certain degree relative to something else. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, this construction is not grammatically standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a rather higher" appears in various sources, it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI points out that accurate alternatives include using "a rather high" or "rather higher than". Although relatively common, particularly in science and news contexts, it's advisable to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "slightly higher" or "somewhat higher" to ensure clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat higher

Replaces "rather" with "somewhat", indicating a slight degree of difference.

slightly higher

Uses "slightly" instead of "rather", suggesting a minimal increase or elevation.

a bit higher

Employs "a bit" to replace "rather", denoting a small difference in level.

considerably higher

Substitutes "rather" with "considerably", emphasizing a significant difference.

noticeably higher

Replaces "rather" with "noticeably", highlighting a clear and evident difference.

appreciably higher

Uses "appreciably" instead of "rather", indicating a measurable or substantial increase.

significantly higher

Replaces "rather" with "significantly", stressing a major difference in degree.

moderately higher

Employs "moderately" instead of "rather", suggesting a balanced and reasonable increase.

comparatively higher

Substitutes "rather" with "comparatively", indicating a difference relative to something else.

relatively higher

Replaces "rather" with "relatively", suggesting a difference in proportion to a reference point.

FAQs

Is "a rather higher" grammatically correct?

No, standard English usage suggests using "a rather high" or "rather higher than" instead. The original phrase is often considered grammatically "incorrect".

What can I use instead of "a rather higher" to indicate a slight increase?

Alternatives include "slightly higher", "somewhat higher", or "a bit higher" depending on the context.

How does "a rather higher" differ from "a rather high"?

"A rather high" describes a single elevated level, while "a rather higher" attempts to compare two levels but is grammatically "incorrect". A correct comparison would be "rather higher than".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "a rather higher", even though it's not standard?

You might find "a rather higher" in informal writing or speech, or in contexts where grammatical precision is not strictly enforced. However, for formal writing, it's best to use grammatically correct alternatives.