a rather strange

USAGE SUMMARY

"a rather strange" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unusual or unexpected. For example: "I found a rather strange item in the attic when I was cleaning it out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I've had a rather strange political trajectory.

The Guardian

"It's a rather strange turn of events".

The Guardian - Tech

"So I'm a rather strange Roman," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

The background is a rather strange shade of yellow.

The New Yorker

Most of the research was a rather strange family picnic.

The Guardian - Books

The rest of the game was a rather strange affair.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was a rather strange experience," Meier says.

The Guardian - Music

The boy gave me a rather strange look.

The New Yorker

The above figure shows a rather strange mouse paw photographed under fluorescent light.

Stanford University

Avoiding wins of any kind is a rather strange concept in sports.

The New York Times

As I was saying, Black History Month has become a rather strange institution.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "a rather strange" when you want to convey a sense of mild surprise or curiosity, without necessarily implying negativity or criticism.

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers with "a rather strange", such as "a very rather strange" or "a quite rather strange", as it can sound redundant and diminish the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather strange" functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase. It qualifies a noun, indicating that the noun possesses an unusual or peculiar quality. This is supported by examples where it modifies nouns like "experience", "affair", and "institution", according to Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rather strange" is a versatile phrase used to express that something is somewhat unusual or peculiar. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It's particularly frequent in news and media, as demonstrated by the numerous examples from sources like The Guardian and The New York Times. While grammatically sound, it's important to consider the formality of the context and avoid overuse of intensifiers. For more formal settings, alternatives like "somewhat unusual" or "distinctly curious" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unusual

Replaces "rather strange" with synonyms that indicate a moderate degree of oddness or uncommonness.

quite peculiar

Substitutes "rather strange" with "quite peculiar", emphasizing the odd or eccentric nature of something.

somewhat odd

Uses "somewhat odd" instead of "rather strange", indicating a slight deviation from the norm.

a bit weird

Replaces the formal "rather strange" with the more informal "a bit weird", indicating something is unusual or unsettling.

slightly abnormal

Changes "rather strange" to "slightly abnormal", suggesting a small deviation from what is typical or expected.

moderately eccentric

Replaces "rather strange" with "moderately eccentric", indicating a mild level of unconventionality.

distinctly curious

Substitutes "rather strange" with "distinctly curious", highlighting the intriguing or attention-grabbing nature of something.

noticeably atypical

Changes "rather strange" to "noticeably atypical", suggesting something deviates from the standard or norm.

pretty unconventional

Uses "pretty unconventional" instead of "rather strange", conveying a strong deviation from established norms.

uncommonly peculiar

Replaces "rather strange" with "uncommonly peculiar", emphasizing the rarity and distinctiveness of the oddity.

FAQs

How can I use "a rather strange" in a sentence?

You can use "a rather strange" to describe something that is unusual or unexpected. For example, "It was "a rather strange coincidence" that they both arrived at the same time".

What are some alternatives to "a rather strange"?

Alternatives include "somewhat unusual", "quite peculiar", or "slightly abnormal", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a rather strange" in formal writing?

While "a rather strange" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "somewhat unusual" or "distinctly curious" in highly formal contexts.

What's the difference between "a rather strange" and "a very strange"?

"A rather strange" implies a moderate level of strangeness, while "a very strange" suggests a higher degree of oddity or peculiarity. The choice depends on the intensity you wish to convey.