an average speed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an average speed of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the rate of motion or progress over a specific distance or time period. Example: "The car maintained an average speed of 60 miles per hour throughout the journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He said he recorded an average speed of 90.1 m.p.h.

The New York Times - Sports

The winner made an average speed of 24.15 kph.

Britannica

Completing their 16 laps in a time of 3min 51.943sec at an average speed of 62kph.

The Guardian - Sport

Japan was the standout, with an average speed of 16.7 Mbps.

The New York Times

Hakkinen covered the 191 miles at an average speed of 130 miles an hour.

The New York Times - Sports

Kanaan led 145 of 150 laps and finished with an average speed of 153.965 m.p.h.

The New York Times - Sports

Tests have shown that the local population endures an average speed of 1.3Mbps.

The Guardian - Tech

The trains, with three cars each, travel at an average speed of 25 miles an hour.

The New York Times - Travel

They said they covered 2,811 miles at an average speed of 87.6 m.p.h.

The New York Times - Sports

That meant an average speed of 44 kilometers an hour (about 27 m.p.h).

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

It was constructed at an average speed of a mile every eight days and a bridge every three days.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing performance metrics, quantify "an average speed of" with specific units (e.g., mph, km/h) to provide clear and measurable information.

Common error

Avoid using "an average speed of" to describe the speed at a particular moment. Average speed reflects the overall journey, while instantaneous speed captures the speed at a specific point in time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an average speed of" functions as a noun phrase that typically modifies a verb or noun, indicating the rate at which something moves over a given period or distance. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

8%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an average speed of" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express the typical rate of movement across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most frequently found in news and media, and scientific publications, lending a quantifiable perspective to the described motion. To ensure clarity, always specify the units of measurement. While generally neutral in tone, remember not to confuse the concept of average speed with instantaneous speed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mean velocity of

Replaces "speed" with "velocity" and "average" with "mean", focusing on directional movement.

an expected pace of

Substitutes "speed" with "pace" and "average" with "expected", emphasizing rhythm or tempo.

a typical rate of

Replaces "speed" with "rate" and "average" with "typical", highlighting a standard measure.

the usual tempo of

Changes "speed" to "tempo" and "average" to "usual", indicating a characteristic rhythm or pace.

a general velocity of

Uses "velocity" instead of "speed" and "general" in place of "average", stressing overall directional movement.

an estimated rate of

Replaces "speed" with "rate" and "average" with "estimated", focusing on a calculated measure.

the projected pace of

Changes "speed" to "pace" and "average" to "projected", highlighting a predicted rhythm.

a common velocity of

Swaps "speed" for "velocity" and "average" for "common", underlining a frequently observed movement.

the approximate tempo of

Replaces "speed" with "tempo" and "average" with "approximate", focusing on an estimated rhythm.

a normal rate of

Substitutes "speed" with "rate" and "average" with "normal", indicating a standard measure.

FAQs

How do I use "an average speed of" in a sentence?

Use "an average speed of" to describe the typical rate of motion over a distance or time. For example, "The train traveled at "an average speed of" 100 mph on its journey".

What's a more formal way to say "an average speed of"?

For a more formal tone, you could use "a mean velocity of" or "the average rate of speed".

What can I say instead of "an average speed of" in casual conversation?

In casual conversation, you might say "a typical speed of" or "the usual pace of".

Is it correct to use "average velocity" instead of "average speed"?

While often used interchangeably, "average velocity" technically includes direction, whereas "average speed of" refers to the rate of motion regardless of direction. In many contexts, the difference is negligible.