is rather ordinary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather ordinary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is unremarkable or typical in nature. Example: "The restaurant's decor is rather ordinary, lacking any unique or standout features."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Half is rather ordinary, although the surroundings at Esca can trick any diner into believing otherwise.

The New York Times - Food

Liuhe's background is rather ordinary.

Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility

The hardware itself is rather ordinary -- just a bronze baseball resting on the bottom of a large bronze circle, all atop a wooden base.

Huffington Post

Truth is, we'd have to agree with our pals at Trulia.com that Phoenix's longtime property "is rather ordinary by Hollywood standards".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The heroes are rather ordinary.

The New York Times

Secret histories turn out to be rather ordinary.

The New York Times

Not all of my conditions are so esoteric; most are rather ordinary, but such a collection!

The New York Times

The result: numerous, closely cropped portraits that, despite an imposing installation, are rather ordinary.

The New York Times

The photos taken specifically for this book are rather ordinary, but at least great care seems to have been exercised in choosing correct, nicely restored cars.

The New York Times

After all, McElroy, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound redshirt junior, has been rather ordinary in an up-and-down season, his first as a starter.

The New York Times - Sports

Cain's performance, by comparison, was rather ordinary: five innings, six hits, three earned runs, four walks, four strikeouts and a hit batter.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is rather ordinary", consider the context to determine if a more specific or evocative adjective might be more impactful. For instance, instead of saying "The meal is rather ordinary", you could say "The meal is bland and lacks seasoning".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "is rather ordinary" can sound simplistic in formal writing. Replace it with a more sophisticated synonym like "unremarkable" or "commonplace" to elevate the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather ordinary" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its lack of exceptional qualities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather ordinary" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing something as unremarkable or typical. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Although relatively infrequent, it appears mostly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "is quite unremarkable" or "is fairly typical" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. While acceptable, consider more sophisticated synonyms in formal writing to enhance the tone. When writing, be mindful of the degree of emphasis and choose the most appropriate synonym to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite unremarkable

Changes "rather ordinary" to "quite unremarkable", emphasizing the lack of distinction.

is fairly typical

Replaces "rather ordinary" with "fairly typical", suggesting conformity to a common standard.

is pretty standard

Substitutes "rather ordinary" with "pretty standard", indicating a common and accepted level.

is somewhat commonplace

Replaces "rather ordinary" with "somewhat commonplace", highlighting the frequent occurrence.

is a bit pedestrian

Uses "a bit pedestrian" instead of "rather ordinary", implying a lack of originality or excitement.

is nothing special

Expresses the sentiment by saying "is nothing special", directly stating the absence of unique qualities.

is not particularly remarkable

Expands the phrase to "is not particularly remarkable", adding emphasis to the lack of noteworthiness.

is on the bland side

Shifts the description to "is on the bland side", suggesting a lack of distinctiveness or flavor.

is rather run-of-the-mill

Replaces "ordinary" with the idiom "run-of-the-mill", indicating something average and unexceptional.

is nothing to write home about

Uses the idiomatic expression "is nothing to write home about", meaning it's not particularly exciting or noteworthy.

FAQs

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

You can use "is rather ordinary" to describe something that lacks distinction or is typical. For example, "The hotel room "is rather ordinary", with no unique features".

What are some alternatives to "is rather ordinary"?

Alternatives include "is quite unremarkable", "is fairly typical", or "is pretty standard", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "is rather ordinary" or "is very ordinary"?

"Is rather ordinary" suggests a slightly understated ordinariness, while "is very ordinary" emphasizes the ordinariness more strongly. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "is rather ordinary" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "is rather ordinary" in informal to neutral contexts where you want to describe something as being typical or unremarkable without being overly critical. Avoid it in formal or academic writing where more sophisticated language is preferred.