has been rather

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been rather" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express that something has been happening to a certain degree or in a certain manner. Example: The weather has been rather unpredictable lately.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His public persona has been rather staid.

The Economist

He has been rather selfish".

The New York Times - Sports

The reality has been rather different.

The Guardian

That has been rather widely reported.

The New Yorker

Twitter, characteristically, has been rather more blunt.

The Guardian

Elsewhere, the verdict has been rather different.

The Guardian - Music

"Tartag has been rather badly damaged.

The Guardian

It has been rather slow thus far.

The New York Times

This research and development work has been rather successful.

Handbook of Thin Film Devices

So the playing field has been rather leveled off".

The New York Times - Magazine

But on the state, Labour has been rather quieter.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been rather" to express a moderate degree or quality without strong emphasis, making it suitable for nuanced observations in both formal and informal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "rather" excessively in highly formal or academic writing, as it can sometimes be perceived as vague or lacking precision. Opt for more specific qualifiers or descriptors to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been rather" functions as a qualifier, modifying an adjective or adverb to express a moderate degree of a particular quality or characteristic. It softens the impact of the adjective, indicating that something is somewhat but not extremely so. This is supported by Ludwig AI's assessment of its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been rather" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a moderate degree of a particular quality. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for general use and appears frequently in news and media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and opt for more precise language in highly formal settings. Remember to use "has been rather" to express a balanced assessment, and avoid overuse to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been quite

This alternative uses "quite" instead of "rather", suggesting a slightly stronger degree of the adjective that follows.

has been fairly

Using "fairly" offers a similar level of intensity as "rather", but may imply a slightly more positive connotation.

has been somewhat

This phrase is a near synonym, providing a slightly more formal tone than "has been rather".

has been relatively

This alternative introduces a comparative aspect, suggesting the situation is viewed in relation to something else.

has been comparatively

Similar to "relatively", this explicitly draws a comparison, implying a structured evaluation.

has been noticeably

This alternative emphasizes that the characteristic being described is easily observed or apparent.

has been distinctly

This phrase highlights a clear and easily identifiable difference or quality.

has been a bit

This alternative uses "a bit", which is less formal and indicates a smaller degree than "rather".

has been a little

Very similar to "a bit", this is casual and suggests a mild degree of the described quality.

has turned out to be

This phrase focuses on the result or outcome, rather than the process or ongoing state.

FAQs

How can I use "has been rather" in a sentence?

"Has been rather" is used to express that something possesses a quality to a moderate extent. For example, "The project "has been rather" challenging, but we are making progress."

What are some alternatives to "has been rather"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "has been quite", "has been fairly", or "has been somewhat" to express similar meanings with slight variations in intensity or formality.

Is "has been rather" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "has been rather" might be considered less precise for highly formal writing. Consider using more specific language to convey the intended degree or quality.

What's the difference between "has been rather" and "has been very"?

"Has been rather" indicates a moderate degree, whereas "has been very" suggests a higher intensity. "The movie "has been rather" long" implies it was moderately long, while "The movie has been very long" suggests it felt excessively long.