is rather good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of approval or satisfaction about something. Example: "The movie we watched last night is rather good, much better than I expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tempura elderflower is rather good.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The football is rather good.

The Guardian - Sport

After all, life is rather good.

The Guardian - Film

Not surprisingly, he thinks he is rather good at it.

The Economist

His responsibility is the food, and that is rather good.

Independent

John Mills is rather good at selling ironing board covers.

Independent

Lionel Messi is rather good, reckons Sid Lowe.

The Guardian - Sport

This World Cup is rather good isn't it?

The Guardian - Sport

It sounds disgusting but it is rather good.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

However, the first half-hour is rather good.

The Guardian - Books

"That Banana Man video is rather good," blurts Billy Murphy.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add emphasis, modify 'rather' with an adverb such as 'really' to convey stronger positive sentiment, changing the meaning to 'is really rather good'.

Common error

Avoid overusing "rather" in very casual conversations. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in extremely informal settings. Opt for alternatives like 'pretty good' or 'quite good' for a more relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather good" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to express a positive assessment. It indicates a moderate level of approval or satisfaction. As Ludwig highlights, it's a usable and correct phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather good" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey a moderate level of approval. As Ludwig confirms, it's suitable for expressing that something is better than expected without being outstanding. Its slightly formal tone makes it appropriate for both written and spoken English, though alternatives might be preferred in very casual settings. The phrase sees frequent use in "News & Media" and "Science", reflecting its versatility. When aiming for variety, consider alternatives like "is quite good" or "is fairly good". Avoid overusing "rather" in informal conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite good

Replaces "rather" with "quite", indicating a similar level of approval but with a slightly more common expression.

is fairly good

Substitutes "rather" with "fairly", offering a near-identical meaning with a slight variation in emphasis.

is reasonably good

Uses "reasonably" instead of "rather", suggesting a justified or expected level of goodness.

is pretty good

Employs "pretty" in place of "rather", providing a more informal and common alternative.

is notably good

Replaces "rather" with "notably", highlighting that the goodness is worthy of attention.

is surprisingly good

Adds an element of unexpectedness to the goodness, implying a positive surprise.

is exceptionally good

Replaces "rather" with "exceptionally", indicating a higher degree of goodness.

is remarkably good

Substitutes "rather" with "remarkably", emphasizing the impressive nature of the goodness.

is impressively good

Uses "impressively" instead of "rather", highlighting the quality that evokes admiration.

is acceptably good

Implies that the level of goodness is satisfactory, meeting the required standards.

FAQs

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

You can use "is rather good" to express a moderate level of approval. For example, 'The food at the new restaurant is rather good' or 'Her performance in the play is rather good'.

What phrases can I use instead of "is rather good"?

You can use alternatives like "is quite good", "is fairly good", or "is pretty good" to express similar levels of approval.

Is "is rather good" formal or informal?

"Is rather good" falls in the neutral to slightly formal register. It's suitable for both written and spoken English, but might sound a bit more formal than phrases like "is pretty good".

What's the difference between "is rather good" and "is very good"?

"Is rather good" implies a moderate level of satisfaction, whereas "is very good" expresses a higher degree of approval. "Is very good" suggests something is significantly better than average.