a steep raise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a steep raise" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe a large or substantial increase in salary or wages. For example, "I'm glad my boss gave me a steep raise this year; it will help me cover my housing costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Teachers at 10 Catholic high schools in New York City and its suburbs have threatened to go on strike as early as today, charging that the Archdiocese of New York has ignored their demand for a steep raise and delayed negotiations.

The New York Times

In addition, he received a steep raise.

Los Angeles Times

Previously in the 19th up till mid-20th century, the world has seen great industrial expansions which we all know as industrial revolution which has created a steep raise in population and its demand for survival thus creating a great impact in the agricultural, industrial, dairy, and medicinal fields.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In a statement to the Chicago News Cooperative, Mr. Burris acknowledged that he had a "steep climb," but vowed to raise "the necessary funds to retire this debt in full".

The New York Times

A steep rise in prices could force China to raise interest rates.

The New York Times

Maintain 15-20 knots during a steep climb.

WikiHow

The city's 80,000 teachers agreed last year to work an extra 100 minutes a week under their new contract, in exchange for a steep pay raise.

The New York Times

The orchestra is coping with a 20percentt cut in funds from the Westchester Arts Council this year by curtailing its expenses, Ms. Kapp said, citing a steep rent raise in Dobbs Ferry.

The New York Times

By then, the AOL division's once-vertiginous growth had turned into a steep decline, raising new questions about the premise of the merger's terms.

The New York Times

As for the governor's race, Mr. Paladino's announcement, which was expected, was bad news for Mr. Lazio, who faces a steep fund-raising gap with both Mr. Cuomo and Mr. Paladino.

The New York Times

Mr. Green had long rankled the teachers' union by putting the reduction of class sizes at the top of his education agenda, a strategy that the union saw as a distraction from the goal of steep raises for teachers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a steep raise" when you want to emphasize that the increase in pay is significant or substantial. It implies that the raise is noticeably larger than what is typically expected or received.

Common error

Avoid using "cheap" in place of "steep". "Cheap" refers to low cost, while "steep" in this context describes a significant increase. For example, saying "a cheap raise" doesn't make sense; instead, use "a small raise" if you mean a raise of little value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a steep raise" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "steep" modifies the noun "raise". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show it often appears as the object of a verb (e.g., "demand a steep raise", "receive a steep raise").

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a steep raise" is a phrase used to describe a significant increase in salary or wages. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and acceptable for use in both formal and informal writing. While the phrase is relatively rare, it appears most frequently in news and media sources, and is often used to highlight noteworthy increases in pay. When using this phrase, it's important to emphasize the magnitude of the increase and avoid confusing "steep" with words like "cheap". Alternatives include phrases like "a substantial pay increase" or "a significant salary hike".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial pay increase

Replaces "raise" with "pay increase" and "steep" with "substantial", focusing on the amount of the raise.

a significant salary hike

Uses "salary hike" instead of "raise", implying a considerable upward adjustment in salary.

a large wage boost

Substitutes "raise" with "wage boost", highlighting the positive impact on earnings.

a considerable increment in pay

Employs more formal language, replacing "steep" with "considerable" and "raise" with "increment in pay".

a generous raise

Replaces "steep" with "generous", emphasizing the positive nature of the raise from the receiver's perspective.

a marked increase in compensation

Uses more formal vocabulary, replacing "raise" with "increase in compensation" and "steep" with "marked".

a significant upward adjustment in salary

A more detailed and formal alternative, clarifying the type of change and the affected income.

a substantial bump in pay

Uses more informal language, replacing "raise" with "bump in pay", implying a noticeable increase.

a hefty salary raise

Uses "hefty" instead of "steep" to emphasize the size of the raise.

a dramatic increase in earnings

Replaces "raise" with "increase in earnings" and "steep" with "dramatic", focusing on the overall impact on earnings.

FAQs

What does "a steep raise" mean?

The phrase "a steep raise" refers to a significant or substantial increase in someone's salary or wages. It emphasizes that the increase is notably large.

What are some alternatives to saying "a steep raise"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial pay increase", "a significant salary hike", or "a generous raise" to convey a similar meaning.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the phrase "a steep raise"?

It's appropriate to use "a steep raise" in both formal and informal contexts when you want to emphasize that the increase in pay is significant and beyond the norm. For example, in business negotiations or news reports about wage increases.

Is "a steep raise" the same as "a steep rise"?

No, "a steep raise" refers to a significant increase in pay, while "a steep rise" generally refers to a sharp increase in something else, like prices or costs. The terms are not interchangeable.