is rather impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather impossible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is very unlikely or difficult to achieve. Example: "Given the current circumstances, completing the project by next week is rather impossible."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Three examples show why in the sequence case so direct formula is rather impossible.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

In fact, the primary peaks (m,m', s,s', t') appear equally in Pr2O3 and PrO2, and hence the ascription of peaks to a definite oxidation state is rather impossible.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Considering the fact that confining the time in which families can file a complaint is rather impossible, an unconstrained medical malpractice insurance package especially meant for delivery problems should be prepared for the physicians.

BMC Health Services Research

Since absolute accuracy and lack of any bias in clone size estimation, barcoding, determination of DNA concentration, equimolar pooling and library preparation is rather impossible, deviations from the expected equal read recovery rate per BAC clone were expected.

BMC Genomics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's rather impossible to know what this government is ever going to do, and clearly whatever evidence is provided they'll make their own minds up anyway," he told me.

Vice

However, it is rather difficult or impossible to simultaneously observe the conformations of all three β subunits in a single α3β3 ring using optical techniques.

Chemical Reviews

But at the store level, the data showed a remarkable truth: It is rather difficult – perhaps even impossible – for a single manager to wear all hats equally well.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Due to the diversity of context events, and the economic, legal, and ethical limitations, however, it is rather difficult or even impossible for traditional methods to conduct comprehensive evaluation for various service strategies.

Information Sciences

This already allows a visual inspection of the observed variations, which is rather difficult, if not impossible, in the entire network.

Bioinformatics

This contention, however, is rather unlikely, if not impossible, because one of the two genes for the same function, in general, would have easily been lost during evolution, while IF1 is well conserved from yeast to humans.

Bioscience Reports

Perhaps to counter this, the audience is rather sophomorically implicated: it is impossible to view the piece without your shadow mingling with the images, as if you were wandering among the rubble.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is rather impossible", ensure that the context clearly supports the assertion of near-impossibility, considering if alternatives focusing on high difficulty might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "is rather impossible" when a task is merely very difficult, not truly close to impossible. Overusing the phrase dilutes its impact and can make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather impossible" functions as a qualifier, softening the absolute nature of "impossible". It suggests a high degree of improbability or difficulty, but does not entirely preclude the possibility of occurrence. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

31%

Academia

19%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather impossible" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating a high degree of improbability or difficulty. While not as forceful as "is impossible", it conveys a sense of near-impossibility while acknowledging a slight chance of occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While its frequency is uncommon, it appears across diverse sources, including science, news, and academia. When using this phrase, consider whether alternatives like "is nearly impossible" or "is highly improbable" might be more fitting, based on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite impossible

This alternative uses "quite" instead of "rather", slightly intensifying the feeling of impossibility.

is virtually impossible

Using "virtually" emphasizes that something is almost entirely impossible, though a slight chance might remain.

is nearly impossible

This alternative is very similar in meaning, suggesting a very high degree of difficulty.

is practically impossible

Replacing "rather" with "practically" suggests that the impossibility stems from practical limitations or considerations.

is pretty much impossible

This option is slightly more informal, but retains a very similar meaning.

is all but impossible

The idiom "all but impossible" emphasizes that something is nearly unattainable.

is highly improbable

This shifts the focus from impossibility to a low probability of occurrence.

is exceedingly difficult

This alternative focuses on the extreme difficulty involved, rather than outright impossibility.

stands little chance

This idiom suggests a very low likelihood of success.

has a slim chance

Expresses that a situation or action has very little probability of succeeding or occurring.

FAQs

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

You can use "is rather impossible" to describe a situation that is very unlikely to happen or a task that is extremely difficult to achieve. For example: "Given the limited resources, completing the project on time "is rather impossible"".

What are some alternatives to "is rather impossible"?

Alternatives include "is quite impossible", "is nearly impossible", or "is highly improbable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "is rather impossible" formal or informal?

The phrase "is rather impossible" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "is virtually impossible" or "is exceedingly difficult".

What's the difference between "is impossible" and "is rather impossible"?

"Is impossible" indicates a complete inability for something to occur, while "is rather impossible" suggests a very high degree of difficulty or improbability, but not necessarily absolute impossibility. The latter implies a small chance of success, however unlikely.