can rather be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can rather be" is a perfectly acceptable phrase that can be used in written English to express a preference.
For example: "This decision can rather be made by the board of directors".

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

"They can rather be described as the greatest wildcat strike in history.

The New York Times - Books

Moreover, we show that these attacks can rather be used to increase the operating cost of the grid to benefit a few utilities in the electricity market.

Columbia University

Further it can be concluded that the electronic properties of the passive film on iron can rather be described in terms of a semiconductor model than by a dielectric approach.

Electrochimica Acta

Instead of well defined independent domains as proposed by Adam and Gibbs, the cooperative regions can rather be identified here to short range order fluctuations whose spatial extent can be characterized by the associated correlation length.

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids

This would reduce the threat of people being priced out of the economic chances that dwell within our best-performing cities. Inequality in itself is not the sign of a failing city, but can rather be a sign of success.

The Guardian

And it can rather be a conservative approach in terms of saving the severely extruded molar teeth.

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"It can be said that Rather was the only man whom Cronkite despised," Brinkley writes.

The New Yorker

Also: The product is, or rather can be made to be, complicated.

Forbes

In fact it can often be rather useful.

The Guardian - Money

Thrilling, magnetic, relentlessly challenging personalities can also be rather draining.

The Guardian - Sport

Or rather, can anything be done to resolve the issue?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "can rather be", ensure the sentence clearly presents an alternative viewpoint or possibility. Avoid using it when a more direct phrasing is possible.

Common error

Avoid using "can rather be" in constructions that make the sentence unnecessarily passive. Rewriting the sentence in active voice often improves clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can rather be" functions as a modal construction used to express an alternative possibility, interpretation, or perspective. It implies that something is not necessarily one way but could plausibly be another. Ludwig shows that it appears across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "can rather be" serves as a tool for offering alternative perspectives and interpretations, as indicated by Ludwig's AI analysis and numerous examples. Grammatically sound and frequently used in both scientific and journalistic writing, it provides a way to present a plausible alternative when assessing a situation. While not overly formal, it's best suited for professional, academic or neutral contexts. Be mindful of its potential to create passive constructions, and opt for clearer, more direct phrasing when possible. Ludwig's collection of real-world examples shows the breadth of its application across different fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could instead be

Emphasizes an alternative possibility or action.

might alternatively be

Suggests a different possibility with a slightly more formal tone.

may instead be considered

Implies a shift in perspective or categorization.

can better be described as

Focuses on providing a more accurate or fitting description.

can alternatively be seen as

Highlights a different interpretation or viewpoint.

might more accurately be

Suggests that a different explanation would be more precise.

could just as easily be

Implies an equal chance of another possibility occurring.

can also be

Indicates an additional option or state.

can even be

Highlights a less obvious, but possible option.

can perhaps be

Expresses uncertainty about the possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "can rather be" in a sentence?

Use "can rather be" to suggest an alternative interpretation or possibility. For example, "The problem isn't incompetence; it "can rather be" attributed to lack of resources."

What can I say instead of "can rather be"?

You can use alternatives like "could instead be", "might alternatively be", or "can better be described as" depending on the context.

Is "can rather be" too formal for casual conversation?

"Can rather be" is generally suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, but in very informal settings, simpler phrases like "could be" or "might be" might be more appropriate.

Which is correct, "can rather be" or "rather can be"?

"Can rather be" is the more common and grammatically accepted order. "Rather can be" is less conventional and might sound awkward to some speakers.