highest rate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highest rate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the maximum level or frequency of something, such as interest rates, statistics, or performance metrics. Example: "The bank is currently offering the highest rate on savings accounts compared to its competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Americans reported the highest rate of lab test errors and the second-highest rate of medical or medication errors.

The New York Times

It's the second-highest rate of any ethnicity (with whites having the highest rate).

Huffington Post

Its highest rate was seven per cent.

The New Yorker

Do you consistently get the highest rate?

The New York Times

That is the highest rate in Canada.

The New York Times - Sports

That's its highest rate since last August.

The Guardian - Business

That's the highest rate in four years.

The Guardian - Business

And the city with the highest rate?

The New York Times

"That's the highest rate in the world.

The New York Times

The highest rate, 34.4 percent, was in Mississippi.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hockey has the second-highest rate.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify timeframe to provide better context and clarity i.e. "highest rate this year", "highest rate since 1990".

Common error

Avoid assuming that the factor with the "highest rate" is necessarily the cause of a related outcome. Correlation does not equal causation. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause-and-effect relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highest rate" functions primarily as a descriptor or qualifier, modifying a noun to indicate the maximum value, level, or frequency of something. Ludwig provides several examples demonstrating its usage in diverse contexts, such as interest rates, infection rates, and unemployment rates.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

19%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

12%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highest rate" is a versatile descriptor employed to pinpoint the maximum level or frequency within a given context. As evidenced by Ludwig's extensive collection of examples, this phrase frequently appears across diverse domains, spanning from news and media to scientific literature and academic discourse. The phrase's neutral register renders it suitable for various communicative settings, emphasizing its widespread applicability. While Ludwig AI underlines the grammatical correctness and general usability of "highest rate", it's crucial to specify the context and timeframe to avoid any ambiguity, and to avoid assuming that the factor with the "highest rate" is necessarily the cause of a related outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

peak percentage

Emphasizes the maximum value expressed as a percentage.

maximum proportion

Highlights the largest fraction or share.

top level

Focuses on the upper limit or extreme of a scale or range.

utmost level

Suggests the highest degree or intensity.

greatest frequency

Highlights the most common occurrence or incidence.

peak incidence

Refers to the point of greatest occurrence, typically in statistics or epidemiology.

maximum incidence

Specifically denotes the highest frequency of an event or condition.

record level

Indicates a value that has never been surpassed.

all-time high

A more informal way to describe something that has reached its highest recorded value.

ceiling rate

Implies an upper limit or cap on a rate, often in financial contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "highest rate" in a sentence?

You can use "highest rate" when discussing maximum levels, frequencies, or proportions. For instance, "This bank offers the "highest rate" on savings accounts" or "The city has the "highest rate" of employment in the state".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "highest rate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "peak percentage", "maximum proportion", or "top level".

Is it always accurate to assume the factor with the "highest rate" is the cause?

No, it's important to remember that correlation does not equal causation. Just because a factor has the "highest rate" does not automatically mean it's the direct cause of a particular outcome. Further analysis is required to determine causality.

What details should I provide when mentioning the "highest rate" of something?

To avoid ambiguity, specify the context (e.g., interest rates, crime rates), the population or group being measured, and the timeframe (e.g., "highest rate this year", "highest rate since 1990").