in a rather

USAGE SUMMARY

"in a rather" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is usually used to indicate that something happens in a particular way or to a certain degree. For example, "He arrived in a rather disheveled state after his long journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The house was built in a rather peculiar way.

Yale University

That leaves us in a rather dark place.

The Washington Post

My wife and I live in a rather nice hotel.

The New York Times

It all started in a rather curious way.

The New York Times

Baffert got the news in a rather uncomfortable way.

The New York Times - Sports

And he did so in a rather clever way.

The Guardian - Opinion

The United States, however, is in a rather different position.

The Guardian - Opinion

A trio swayed in a rather obvious staring contest.

The New York Times - Arts

"Dinah was in a rather exquisite state of mind.

The New York Times - Books

Still, resources are allocated in a rather scarce way.

The Guardian - Tech

I got into drama accidentally, in a rather unusual way.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "in a rather" with adjectives that might otherwise seem overly strong or subjective, such as "in a rather surprising development" or "in a rather unusual manner".

Common error

Avoid using "in a rather" excessively, as it can make your writing sound hesitant or verbose. Consider using a more direct adjective or adverb for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a rather" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically an adverbial phrase. It qualifies the degree or manner of an action or description. Ludwig provides examples of its use, such as "in a rather peculiar way" or "in a rather serious mood", to showcase its role in modifying adjectives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

34%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in a rather" serves as a versatile adverbial modifier, adding a layer of moderation or qualification to descriptions. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, scientific writing, and academic discourse. While useful for softening statements, it's crucial to avoid overuse and consider more concise alternatives when appropriate. The prevalence of examples in News & Media suggests its frequent use in objective reporting, while its application in Science allows for expressing findings with careful nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat

This alternative is more concise, replacing the prepositional phrase with a single adverb.

quite

This alternative is a shorter adverb that denotes a similar degree of qualification.

relatively

This alternative emphasizes comparison and proportion, suggesting a degree relative to something else.

moderately

This alternative explicitly indicates a medium degree or extent.

to some extent

This alternative is a longer phrase that implies a partial or limited degree.

to a degree

This alternative is similar to 'to some extent' but slightly more concise.

fairly

This alternative provides a simple adverb indicating a reasonable or moderate amount.

kind of

This alternative is an informal way to express a moderate degree or quality.

sort of

This alternative is similar to 'kind of', offering an informal qualification.

slightly

This alternative suggests a small degree or extent of modification.

FAQs

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

You can use "in a rather" to qualify an adjective or adverb, softening its impact. For example, "The situation is "somewhat complex"" can be expressed as "The situation is "in a rather" complex state".

What phrases are similar to "in a rather"?

Similar phrases include "somewhat", "quite", "relatively", or "moderately". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to use "in a rather"?

While "in a rather" is acceptable in many contexts, more concise alternatives like "somewhat" or "relatively" might be preferred in formal writing for a more direct and less wordy style.

When should I avoid using "in a rather"?

Avoid using "in a rather" when you want to make a strong, direct statement. In such cases, a more forceful adjective or adverb without qualification will be more effective.