far above average

USAGE SUMMARY

"far above average" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to emphasize that something is much higher than average, for example: Her math skills are far above average for her age.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The food is far above average.

The New York Times

On state tests, Success Academy students score far above average.

The New Yorker

The Caesar was classic and far above average.

The New York Times

"It is far above average in terms of segregation," Professor Logan said.

The New York Times

Even ubiquitous Italian cheesecake -- light, moist, served warm and garnished with a berry sauce -- was far above average.

The New York Times

"These people have salaries and working conditions that are far above average," said Per Terje Vold, director general of the industry association.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

To guarantee that AC-IE also has a high JIF in future, it is necessary that the editors accept for publication only those submissions that after publication will have far above-average citation counts.

Plosone

Hence, all submissions with Rw>1.5 were categorized as qualified (that is, after publication they made a far above-average contribution to scientific advancement in their subfields) and all submission with Rw≤1.5 as non-qualified (that is, after publication they do not make this significant contribution to scientific advancement in their subfields).

Plosone

They have far-above-average toppings such as fennel chilli sausage and bacon dust, and it named a pizza after Giorgio Moroder.

The Guardian - Travel

These "super forecasters" also delivered a far-above-average performance in Year 2. Apparently, forecasting skill cannot only be taught, it can be replicated.

The New York Times

You can't be an Olympic pistol shooter without some innate steadiness of hand or a Tour de France cyclist without a far-above-average efficiency at moving oxygen to muscles.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far above average" to emphasize a notable difference. For example, instead of saying "His intelligence is above average", you can say "His intelligence is far above average" to highlight the exceptional level.

Common error

Avoid using multiple intensifiers with "far above average". Phrases like "very far above average" can sound redundant. Instead, let "far" provide the necessary emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far above average" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it exceeds the average value to a significant degree. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable. Examples show it describing test scores, salaries, and food quality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far above average" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to express that something is significantly better or higher than the average. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. This phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, and its function is to emphasize the exceptional quality or degree of something. While related phrases like "well above average" or "significantly higher than average" can be used, "far above average" provides a distinct level of emphasis. Remember to avoid redundancy by not using multiple intensifiers, and to tailor your choice to the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well above average

Indicates a level exceeding the average by a considerable margin, but potentially less extreme than "far above average".

significantly higher than average

Emphasizes the statistical difference from the average value.

considerably better than average

Focuses on the improved quality compared to the average, adding a subjective evaluation of "better".

distinctly superior to the norm

Highlights the superiority of something compared to what is typically expected.

exceptionally exceeding expectations

Implies that something is not only above average but also surpasses what was anticipated.

remarkably greater than usual

Stresses the noteworthiness of the difference compared to what is typical or common.

outstandingly surpassing the median

Uses "median" as a reference point, suggesting a performance that greatly exceeds the middle value.

noticeably exceeding the standard

Indicates that the difference from the standard is easily observable and significant.

appreciably higher than the mean

Emphasizes that the difference compared to the mean is substantial and measurable.

well in excess of average

Highlights a surplus or abundance relative to the average level.

FAQs

How can I use "far above average" in a sentence?

You can use "far above average" to describe something that is significantly better or higher than the typical or expected level. For example, "Her test scores were "far above average" compared to her classmates".

What can I say instead of "far above average"?

You can use alternatives like "well above average", "significantly higher than average", or "considerably better than average" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "far above average" or "much above average"?

"Far above average" is generally considered more emphatic and formal. "Much above average" is acceptable but may sound less precise. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

What's the difference between "above average" and "far above average"?

"Above average" indicates that something is better than the average, while ""far above average"" emphasizes that it is significantly or remarkably better. The addition of "far" adds a stronger degree of emphasis.