highest and lowest

USAGE SUMMARY

'highest and lowest' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to the two extremes of a range, such as a range of numbers or prices. For example, you could say: "The highest and lowest temperatures recorded were -25°C and 35°C respectively."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The highest and lowest scores are dropped.

The New York Times - Sports

Which degrees produce the highest and lowest salaries?

The Times

Which lawmakers have the highest and lowest net worth.

The Washington Post

Forbes has created two lists of universities with the highest and lowest return on investment.

Stanford University

The so-called central tendency forecast is an amalgam of the highest and lowest estimates.

The New York Times

Just his name -- Thurgood Orenthal Stubbs -- represents the highest and lowest points in African-American culture".

The New York Times - Arts

The highest and lowest of these are playing fields, planted directly on the land.

The New York Times - Arts

Biden's highest and lowest moments in the Senate came in 1987.

The New Yorker

The highest and lowest points of my life raced by me.

The New Yorker

(That gain is the distance between the highest and lowest points on a given day).

The New York Times - Travel

The difference between the highest and lowest estimate was $699,974.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing data sets, use "highest and lowest" to clearly define the range and highlight the extremes.

Common error

Avoid using "highest and lowest" when referring to subjective qualities or preferences; instead, use phrases like "best and worst" or "most and least favorable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highest and lowest" functions as a descriptive element, typically acting as an adjective modifying a noun. It identifies the extreme points on a scale or range. Ludwig examples confirm that it's used to specify the boundaries of data or experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highest and lowest" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating extreme values within a range. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most common in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When writing, it's best to use this phrase for quantitative data and avoid using it for subjective opinions. Alternatives include "maximum and minimum" or "peak and trough", depending on the specific context. The phrase has a neutral register suitable for a variety of formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maximum and minimum

Replaces "highest" with "maximum" and "lowest" with "minimum", focusing on the extreme values within a set.

peak and trough

Uses metaphorical terms from graphs and charts to indicate the highest and lowest points in a series.

upper and lower bounds

Emphasizes the limits or boundaries of a range, indicating the highest and lowest possible values.

top and bottom

Uses simpler, more direct terms to refer to the highest and lowest positions in a ranking or hierarchy.

greatest and least

Employs "greatest" and "least" as alternatives to "highest" and "lowest", respectively, highlighting the quantitative aspect.

ceiling and floor

Introduces metaphors of a ceiling and floor to represent the upper and lower limits of a scale or variable.

best and worst

Shifts the focus to evaluation, indicating the most and least desirable outcomes or qualities.

extremes

Uses a single word to encapsulate both the highest and lowest points, ideal for brevity.

high end and low end

Often used in business contexts to describe the most expensive and least expensive products or services.

alpha and omega

Uses the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet to symbolize the beginning and end, or the highest and lowest points.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "highest and lowest" in a sentence?

The phrase "highest and lowest" is used to indicate the extreme values in a range. For example, "The chart displays the "highest and lowest" sales figures for the year."

What are some alternatives to saying "highest and lowest"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "maximum and minimum", "peak and trough", or "upper and lower bounds".

Is it correct to say "most high and most low" instead of "highest and lowest"?

While understandable, "most high and most low" is not standard English. The correct and commonly used phrase is "highest and lowest".

What is the difference between "highest and lowest" and "best and worst"?

"Highest and lowest" generally refers to numerical or measurable values, while "best and worst" is used to describe qualitative judgments or preferences.