at record speed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at record speed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is happening or being done faster than ever before. Example: "The new software processes data at record speed, significantly improving efficiency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

And we're growing at record speed.

Independent

The Arctic sea ice is vanishing at record speed to unprecedented lows due to climate change.

The Guardian

Rarely does it stretch credulity, although some of Prescott's ideas call for renovating and booby-trapping buildings at record speed.

The New York Times - Books

He rode it from Chicago to Los Angeles at record speed, throwing out ten-dollar bills as he went.

The New Yorker

The sudden economic slowdown has trimmed demand and swelled oil supplies, pushing down prices at record speed.

The New York Times

By the end of her life Lady Caroline could wreck any room without effort at record speed.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

The reservoir has been rising at record speeds since 2004.

Independent

Alex Schott, a spokesman for Entergy, said the company was "restoring power at record speeds".

The New York Times

Froome is a curious hybrid athlete, a wafer-thin climber – "an x-ray on top of a pair of thighs," as one French paper put it – but able to time-trial at record speeds.

The Guardian - Sport

Those winds also blustered at record speeds.

Science Magazine

ListenLoop knows software is being built at record speeds today.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider adding quantifiable metrics alongside "at record speed". For example, specify the increase in percentage or the reduction in time achieved.

Common error

Avoid using "at record speed" without a clear point of reference. For instance, stating that a company is growing "at record speed" is less impactful if you don't specify which previous growth rate is being exceeded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at record speed" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. As supported by Ludwig, it indicates that something is happening or being done faster than ever before.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "at record speed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase to denote that something is happening faster than ever before. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples. The phrase is most common in news, science and business contexts. For effective usage, make sure to establish what record is being broken to maximize the impact of the statement. While there are many alternative phrases available, such as "with unprecedented swiftness" and "at a blistering pace", "at record speed" is direct and effective in conveying exceptional quickness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with unprecedented swiftness

Emphasizes speed using 'swiftness' instead of 'speed' and 'unprecedented' replaces 'record' to highlight uniqueness.

at an unmatched velocity

Uses 'velocity' for 'speed' and 'unmatched' to convey the exceptional nature of the speed.

with exceptional rapidity

Replaces "speed" with "rapidity" to highlight how quickly something happens.

at a blistering pace

Employs a more figurative term, 'blistering pace', to indicate very high speed.

at breakneck pace

Similar to 'blistering pace', breakneck implies a dangerously fast speed.

with remarkable celerity

Celerity is a more formal synonym of speed, suggesting swiftness and promptness.

at top clip

Top clip is an informal way to say high speed.

with lightning speed

Compares the speed to lightning, highlighting its extreme quickness.

at warp speed

A science fiction reference indicating extremely fast travel.

with unparalleled haste

Haste refers to speed in carrying out a task, and unparalleled means unmatched.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "at record speed" in a sentence?

Use "at record speed" to emphasize that something is happening faster than ever before. For example, "The company achieved unprecedented sales growth "at record speed" this quarter".

What are some alternatives to using "at record speed"?

You can use alternatives like "with unprecedented swiftness", "at an unmatched velocity", or "at a blistering pace" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "at a record speed" instead of "at record speed"?

While grammatically acceptable, "at a record speed" is less common and generally less impactful than "at record speed". The latter is more concise and direct.

In what contexts is "at record speed" most appropriate?

The phrase "at record speed" is suitable in a variety of contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and business communications, where you want to highlight exceptional and unprecedented speed.