at a rate of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at a rate of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the speed or rate that something is taking place, for example: "The new technology is improving production efficiency at a rate of 5% each quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Novartis now expects group sales growing at a rate of about 5percentt in 2009 and drug sales at a rate of 5 to 10percentt.

The New York Times

Hispanic inmates commit suicide at a rate of about 23percentt higher than black jail inmates.

Vice

"The workload is going up at a rate of knots.

The Guardian

Medical aid gets funded at a rate of around 58%.

The Guardian

We're going at a rate of 2.5 a day.

The Guardian - Sport

Waves come at a rate of 18 an hour.

The Guardian - Travel

At a rate of 26.8% you would pay back £569.55.

The Guardian - Money

By comparison, large sport utility vehicles kill people in the second vehicle at a rate of 205 per 100,000 crashes; minivans kill at a rate of 104 deaths; and large cars at a rate of 85 deaths.

The New York Times

He said ballots cast by blacks were rejected at a rate of 14.4percentt and those cast by nonblacks were rejected at a rate of 1.6percentt.

The New York Times

Costs discounted at a rate of 5%.

Health Economics Review

Real GDP increased at a rate of 3.24%.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at a rate of", ensure the units of measurement are clearly stated to provide context. For instance, specify if you are referring to events per hour, growth per year, or cost per item.

Common error

Avoid using "at a rate of" without quantifying the rate. For example, saying "the company is growing at a rate of knots" is less informative than stating "the company is growing at a rate of 15% per quarter".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at a rate of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating the speed or frequency at which an action or event occurs. Ludwig shows its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "at a rate of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to specify the speed or frequency of an event, growth, or change. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal communications. To use it effectively, always quantify the rate with appropriate units and avoid vague specifications. Related phrases include "with a frequency of" and "at a speed of", providing alternative ways to express similar ideas.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a frequency of

Replaces "rate" with "frequency", emphasizing how often something occurs.

at a speed of

Substitutes "rate" with "speed", highlighting the velocity at which something moves or happens.

at a pace of

Uses "pace" instead of "rate", implying a consistent or measured speed.

in proportion to

Shifts the focus to a proportional relationship rather than a specific rate.

with an incidence of

Replaces "rate" with "incidence", often used in medical or statistical contexts to describe the occurrence of events.

on average

Implies a typical rate over a period, replacing direct specification.

per unit of time

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general term indicating a rate based on time.

in terms of

A more general way to connect something to a specific metric.

relative to

Expresses a relationship or comparison, rather than a defined rate.

as a function of

Highlights that something depends on another factor, changing the meaning somewhat.

FAQs

How can I use "at a rate of" in a sentence?

Use "at a rate of" to describe the speed or frequency at which something occurs. For example, "The population is increasing "at a rate of" 2% per year".

What are some alternatives to "at a rate of"?

You can use alternatives such as "with a frequency of", "at a speed of", or "in proportion to" depending on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "at a rate of" or "at a speed of"?

"At a rate of" is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts. "At a speed of" is more specific to contexts involving velocity or movement.

How do I choose the right measurement unit to use with "at a rate of"?

Select a measurement unit that is relevant and meaningful to the situation you are describing. For example, use "per year" for annual growth, "per hour" for hourly production, or "per capita" for population statistics.