highly reflective

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly reflective" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a strong ability to reflect light or to indicate deep thought or consideration. Example: "The highly reflective surface of the mirror created a stunning visual effect in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Furthermore, the highly reflective glass the architect chose is inexplicable.

The New Yorker

Ice is highly reflective, while the ocean beneath is dark.

The Guardian

"You have highly reflective, polished objects," he said.

The New York Times

Fresh snow is highly reflective, which slows melting and helps throw heat back into the atmosphere.

MIT Technology Review

The tunnel is lined with a highly reflective surface Fink helped invent in 1998.

MIT Technology Review

They are also strangely bright, indicating that they are covered in a highly reflective material.

MIT Technology Review

Then, the loss of highly reflective sea ice exposes darker ocean water beneath.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The high-amplitude reflections are suggestive of highly-reflective volcanic lava sill/flow.

Earth, Planets and Space

These forest-dwellers have an intricately patterned, highly-reflective dorsal "shield".

BBC

But if any of our readers are on Apple laptops, they know the sorrow of a highly-reflective display.

TechCrunch

Highly reflective glazes contribute to the way the Kraitz ceramic sculptures contrast with the surrounding greenery.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical specifications, use "highly reflective" to clearly communicate a material's ability to reflect light or other forms of radiation effectively. It provides a concise and universally understood metric.

Common error

Avoid using "highly reflective" in contexts where simpler terms like "shiny" or "bright" would suffice. Overusing technical jargon can make your writing sound pretentious and less accessible to a general audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly reflective" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies nouns to indicate a high degree of reflectivity, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples discussing materials, surfaces, and coatings. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly reflective" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase that describes a significant ability to reflect light or radiation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and applicable across various writing contexts. Predominantly found in science, news, and academic texts, it serves to specify a material's reflective properties, adding precision to technical and descriptive writing. While its usage is widespread, it's advisable to reserve it for contexts where technical accuracy is valued, avoiding overuse in more general communication. Alternatives include "extremely reflective" or "very reflective", depending on the desired emphasis. The phrase's prevalence in reputable sources like The New York Times and scientific journals underscores its reliability and acceptance in both technical and general discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely reflective

Emphasizes the intensity of reflection, similar to "highly reflective" but with a focus on degree.

intensely reflective

Highlights the strength and intensity of the reflection.

exceptionally reflective

Indicates that the reflectivity is beyond the norm or average.

very reflective

A simpler and more direct way to express a strong degree of reflection.

remarkably reflective

Emphasizes the noteworthiness or unusual degree of reflection.

ultra-reflective

A modern term emphasizing extremely high reflection capabilities.

super reflective

An informal way to describe something with a very high level of reflectivity.

glaringly reflective

Suggests a strong, almost dazzling level of reflection.

highly polished

Focuses on the surface quality that causes the high reflection.

mirror-like

Compares the reflective quality to that of a mirror.

FAQs

How can I use "highly reflective" in a sentence?

You can use "highly reflective" to describe materials or surfaces that reflect a significant amount of light, such as "The mirror had a "highly reflective" surface" or "The "highly reflective" paint helped to keep the building cool".

What are some alternatives to saying "highly reflective"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "extremely reflective", "very reflective", or "mirror-like" as alternatives to "highly reflective".

Is it better to use "highly reflective" or "very reflective"?

"Highly reflective" and "very reflective" are often interchangeable, but "highly reflective" may be preferred in more technical or scientific contexts. "Very reflective" is generally simpler and more widely understood.

In what fields is the term "highly reflective" commonly used?

The term "highly reflective" is commonly used in fields such as optics, astronomy, architecture (especially when discussing cool roofs), and material science to describe surfaces or materials with a high degree of reflectivity.