fast a quarter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fast a quarter" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be an attempt to convey a specific meaning, but it lacks clarity and proper context. Example: "I need to fast a quarter of my daily intake to meet my health goals."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The European Central Bank (ECB), which ended more than two years of inactivity last December, has been broadcasting further rate increases, but no one knows how far or fast: a quarter-point in June, or a half?

The Economist

Europe's indigenous population is ageing fast, with a quarter of it over 60.

The Economist

Since then, the opt-out rate has fallen fast, by a quarter, setting an example for other states with easy policies.

The New York Times - Health

Fast forward a quarter of a century to life in the electronic cottage, the home-based information age economy predicted by Alvin Toffler.

The New York Times

Fast forward a quarter century and Brown, now 31, is the new mayor of Compton, an incongruously youthful, glamorous figure at the helm of what many still consider one of America's murder capitals.

The Guardian

A chip running at 1 megahertz, (which was pretty fast about a quarter of a century ago), has 1 million cycles a second.

Forbes

Fast forward a quarter of a century and the eternal MC is on his 20th album, while Beetles, AKA Datsik, sits as king of the heavy bass hill as the head of Firepower Records.

Vice

Fast forward a quarter-century.

Huffington Post

Food arrives fast and at a quarter of the price of a trendy restaurant.

The New York Times - Travel

That was fast... Almost a quarter of the season gone already, as we head into week eight.

The Guardian - Sport

Made for European television and originally divided into six one-hour episodes, the movie now runs an absorbing, astonishingly fast four and a quarter hours.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe the phrase to improve clarity. Instead of using "fast a quarter", specify what is fast and what constitutes a quarter. For example, "complete a quarter-mile quickly" is clearer.

Common error

Avoid using "fast" directly before "a quarter" without a clear noun or action being described. "Fast" needs to modify something specific. For example, instead of saying "the runner was fast a quarter", say "the runner completed a quarter-mile very fast".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fast a quarter" is grammatically questionable. It attempts to combine an adjective of speed with a fractional quantity, lacking a clear noun or verb to modify. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fast a quarter" is not grammatically correct and lacks clear context in standard written English. While there are instances where the individual words appear together in various sources, the combination itself doesn't form a standard or easily interpretable phrase. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct. To convey the intended meaning, it's best to rephrase to specify what is fast and what the quarter refers to. Alternatives like "rapidly approaching a quarter" or "quickly covered a quarter" offer clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express similar ideas. When constructing sentences, avoid placing 'fast' directly before 'a quarter' without clear modification of a noun or verb. This lack of examples indicates it's better to use alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fast-paced quarter

Highlights the intensity within a time period, using an adjective to describe the pace.

Quick quarter

Emphasizes speed over a short distance or period, differing in grammatical structure from the original.

Fastest quarter in history

This alternative uses superlative to emphasize that is the fastest time recorded.

Rapidly approaching a quarter

Focuses on the speed of reaching a specific proportion, introducing a dynamic aspect.

Speeding through a quarter

Implies rapid progress through a time frame, conveying momentum.

Quickly reaching the quarter mark

Emphasizes the speed of achieving a milestone, adding directional context.

Accelerating to a quarter

Highlights the acceleration towards a specific proportion, introducing a growth concept.

Swiftly covering a quarter

Focuses on speed over a distance, using an adverb to convey the fast movement.

Rapidly achieving a quarter

Focuses on the speed of accomplishing a proportional goal, emphasizing the outcome.

Brisk quarter

Suggests a lively and energetic pace within a specific period, differing in tone.

FAQs

How can I properly use a phrase with 'fast' and 'a quarter' in a sentence?

To correctly use 'fast' with 'a quarter', ensure 'fast' modifies a specific action or noun. For instance, 'He ran "a fast quarter-mile"' clarifies the distance was covered quickly.

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "fast a quarter"?

Instead of "fast a quarter", consider phrases like "quickly covered a quarter" or "rapidly approaching a quarter" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness.

How do I avoid ambiguity when talking about speed and fractions of distance or time?

To prevent confusion, always specify what action is being performed quickly and what the 'quarter' refers to. For example, use "a fast quarter of the race" instead of "fast a quarter".

What's the difference between saying "fast quarter" and "a quarter as fast"?

"Fast quarter" usually describes a period or distance covered quickly, while "a quarter as fast" indicates a speed that is 25% of another speed. The terms have different meanings and aren't interchangeable.