is rather cheap

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather cheap" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is low in cost or inexpensive, often with a slight connotation of being of lower quality. Example: "The restaurant's prices are quite reasonable, and the food is delicious, but the ambiance is rather cheap."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Although the Kalman filter is a classical solution, Particle Filters represent an alternative for applications with non-Gaussian noise, especially when computational power is rather cheap and sampling rate is slow.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

"Compared to methamphetamine and heroin, K is rather cheap," an anonymous member of the Public Security Bureau in Dongguan told Motherboard in 2013.

Vice

No cows, no geese, no flocks of sheep, Djibouti's income is rather cheap".

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

They are rather cheap and disposable looking.

The New York Times

"Ecclesiastical stuff tends to be rather cheap," he says.

The New Yorker

Lord Moynihan, also the former chairman of the BOA, said she was "the finest captain of Team GB" and Richard Tracey said the decision not to hold a minute's silence was "rather cheap".

The Guardian - Sport

Or, some say, the changes are a vehicle to promote the prospects of Gamal Mubarak, the son and, perhaps, heir to Egypt's long-serving president.In this section Cleaner, but still bare A delicate state of affairs Surgery on hardened arteries Al-Qaeda operations are rather cheap Who did what to whom?

The Economist

In this regard, many studies have found that energy savings and energy efficiency measures are rather cheap, and might even come at negative costs.

Energy Transitions

Margaret Thatcher's former sports minister, Richard Tracey, shared that view and told 5 live: "Frankly I think it's rather cheap that they decided not to show any sort of respect for her, because, to be honest, she did really deliver what football is today, particularly with the Taylor report,  and the all-seater stadia.

BBC

Dry shampoo should not be overused too, but it's rather cheap and smells nice.

WikiHow

Walking, for British punters, may be rather cheaper than talking.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing products or services, consider if "is rather cheap" accurately conveys your intended meaning. If you want to emphasize affordability without implying low quality, alternatives like "is reasonably priced" or "is quite inexpensive" may be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "is rather cheap" in formal or professional writing where a more sophisticated vocabulary is expected. Instead, opt for phrases like "is economically viable" or "presents a cost-effective solution".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather cheap" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by ascribing a quality (cheapness) to it. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes something as low in cost or inexpensive.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is rather cheap" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something as inexpensive, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It appears frequently in various contexts, especially in News & Media, Science, and Wiki. While generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider whether the slight implication of lower quality is intended, and to use more formal alternatives like "is quite inexpensive" or "is fairly low-priced" in professional settings. Ultimately, the phrase effectively communicates affordability but should be employed thoughtfully to avoid unintended connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite inexpensive

Changes "rather cheap" to "quite inexpensive", emphasizing low cost with a slightly more formal tone.

is fairly low-priced

Replaces "rather cheap" with "fairly low-priced", focusing on the affordability aspect.

is relatively economical

Substitutes "rather cheap" with "relatively economical", highlighting cost-effectiveness.

is reasonably priced

Uses "reasonably priced" instead of "rather cheap", suggesting a fair price for the value offered.

is surprisingly affordable

Replaces "rather cheap" with "surprisingly affordable", emphasizing unexpected cost savings.

is a bargain

Employs "a bargain" in place of "rather cheap", indicating an exceptionally good deal.

is dirt cheap

Uses "dirt cheap" instead of "rather cheap", intensifying the low cost but potentially sounding less formal.

is on the lower end

Substitutes "rather cheap" with "on the lower end", focusing on position within a price range.

doesn't cost much

Expresses the idea of low cost by stating that it "doesn't cost much".

is modestly priced

Uses "modestly priced" in place of "rather cheap", implying a moderate and reasonable cost.

FAQs

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

You can use "is rather cheap" to describe something that doesn't cost a lot of money. For example, "Compared to methamphetamine and heroin, K "is rather cheap"."

What's a more formal way to say "is rather cheap"?

If you want to sound more formal, try alternatives like "is quite inexpensive" or "is fairly low-priced" instead of "is rather cheap".

What does "is rather cheap" imply about the quality of something?

"Is rather cheap" can sometimes suggest that something is of lower quality due to its low price. However, it primarily focuses on the affordability aspect. Consider your context and intended meaning.

What can I say instead of "is rather cheap" to emphasize value?

To emphasize value for money, consider using phrases like "is a bargain" or "is surprisingly affordable" instead of "is rather cheap".