at this fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at this fast" is not correct in standard written English.
It is likely intended to convey a sense of speed or rapidity, but the correct expression would be "at this speed" or "at this pace." Example: "We need to complete the project at this speed to meet the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I stood there, quite relaxed and quite interested in what was going on, looking at this fast camera that she had to get underneath, just like Victorians did with that big, black velvet thing that you put your head under.

The Guardian - Arts

The market for green, ethical and organic -- organic cotton sales tripled in the last six years (Textilexchange, 2011) – products has grown rapidly in recent years and is projected to continue at this fast pace.

Forbes

Look, I KNEW it was the right thing, but it's like one day we were driving along at this fast clip and suddenly, we screeched to a halt.

Huffington Post

She points out that "the whole conversation seen takes place in under four minutes, which shows it is unfolding rapidly for the two people taking part, and if it continues at this fast rate it may be valuable considering how someone unavailable will experience picking up their phone and needing to join in later along the thread".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Burgers are grilled to doneness with remarkable accuracy at this fast-food place.

The New York Times

And it has swelled into a full-blown existential debate at this fast-growing private university.

The New York Times

Burgers are grilled with remarkable accuracy at this fast-food place, whose core product is a grilled-to-order 5 ½-ounce patty, well seasoned and beefy, on a toasted bun.

The New York Times

But at this fast-casual restaurant, which opened last August in a strip mall in Westfield, there are also other catches: "po' boy" sandwiches with fried clams ($8.25), fish tacos ($7) and steamed mussels ($7.95), to name a few.

The New York Times

TWO FORKS The unusual featured preparation at this fast-casual newcomer is pulled meats: beef, chicken, pork and lamb, shredded and piled in bowls or sandwiches with a choice of sauce and a seasonal slaw.

The New York Times - Food

LA ESQUINA MIDTOWN WEST Tacos, tortas and quesadillas are featured at this fast-casual uptown outpost of an expanding restaurant group, with a flagship in SoHo and an offshoot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn: 200 West 55th Street, 646-707-3950, esquinanyc.com.

The New York Times - Food

Daniel and I sat down to a tasty meal certain to load his muscles with plenty of glycogen before for the big race — which, I'm happy to report, he sped through at this fastest pace yet, thanks to the pasta, of course.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing speed or rate, use the grammatically correct phrases "at this speed" or "at this pace" instead of "at this fast".

Common error

Avoid using the adjective "fast" in place of the nouns "speed" or "pace" after a preposition. Always ensure the phrase follows standard grammatical structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at this fast" functions as a prepositional phrase, but its grammatical structure is flawed, as noted by Ludwig. It attempts to modify a verb or clause by indicating the rate at which something occurs but fails due to the incorrect use of the adjective "fast" as a noun.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at this fast" is an attempt to describe the speed or pace of an action, but it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the adjective "fast" is misused in place of a noun like "speed" or "pace". While Ludwig provides examples of its usage in diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science, and Academia, its incorrectness makes it unsuitable for formal writing. It is advisable to use alternatives such as "at this speed" or "at this pace" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at this speed

Replaces "fast" with the more grammatically correct noun "speed".

at this pace

Substitutes "fast" with "pace", another noun indicating rate of movement or progress.

at such a rate

Uses "rate" to convey speed, adding "such a" for emphasis.

at this velocity

Employs "velocity" for a more technical connotation of speed.

at this tempo

Applies "tempo", often used in music, to indicate the speed of an activity or process.

at this clip

Replaces "fast" with "clip", indicating a rate of progress.

with this rapidity

Uses the noun "rapidity" to emphasize quickness.

at this quickness

Substitutes "fast" with "quickness", another noun indicating speed.

at this swiftness

Employs "swiftness" to highlight the promptness or speed.

at this accelerated rate

Adds "accelerated" to emphasize an increased speed.

FAQs

What are grammatically correct alternatives to "at this fast"?

The correct alternatives include "at this speed" or "at this pace". These options use nouns, which are grammatically appropriate after the preposition "at".

When is it appropriate to use "fast" in a sentence?

"Fast" is appropriately used as an adjective (e.g., "a fast car") or an adverb (e.g., "run fast"). Avoid using it as a noun following prepositions like "at"; use "speed" or "pace" instead.

How can I describe a rate of progress correctly?

Use phrases like "at this rate", "at this velocity", or "at this tempo", depending on the context. Make sure to use a noun after the preposition "at".

What’s the difference between "at this fast" and "at this speed"?

"At this fast" is grammatically incorrect. "At this speed" is the correct form, using the noun "speed" to describe how quickly something is moving or progressing.