is rather steep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is rather steep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has a high degree or intensity, often in relation to prices, slopes, or challenges. Example: "The price of the new smartphone is rather steep compared to last year's model."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This walkway is cool and lovely, and although the final ascent to the chapel is rather steep, the rest of the way is easy.

The New York Times - Travel

The price is rather steep and may keep many from buying the iSlate.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

These materials are forming the potential sites of debris flow at the availability of discharging fluid, at the places where slope is rather steeper.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

As that includes the 45% discount, one can only assume that Tesco's standard prices are rather steep.

The Guardian - Money

In evaluating our total monthly payments we realize they will be rather steep.

Los Angeles Times

Alex's father Claud was probably the best frontline reporter during the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War -- and the competition was rather steep for that designation -- and a brilliant essayist on everything from British foreign policy to Irish agricultural practices.

Huffington Post

However, as observed before with other PHAIA assays, the slope was rather steep, limiting the dynamic range of the assay.

Analytical Chemistry

The forests are situated in a mountainous region, thus the slopes are rather steep with a mean gradient of 60percentt.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

While the growth rate of THR was rather steep from the 1960s to the 1990s, after 2000 the growth slowed down.

Acta Orthopaedica

The Tyrrhenian Sea, on the other hand, is rather deep and has a much steeper profile, so that downstream river confluence is a rather unlikely cause for the observed gene flow between rivers of the TL district.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Moreover, we could directly observe the nonlinear kink in the perithreshold slope conductance such that near the inhibitory reversal potential there is a rather steep positive slope conductance that can oppose transient hyperpolarizing currents (i.e., a background of uIPSCs).

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is rather steep" to describe prices, consider the audience and context. In formal writing, more precise terms like "expensive" or "high" might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "is rather steep" in highly technical or scientific writing where precise measurements or data should be provided instead of subjective descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rather steep" primarily functions as a descriptive expression. It combines a copular verb ("is") with an adverb ("rather") and an adjective ("steep") to attribute a quality of being excessively high or inclined to a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is valid in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

10%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is rather steep" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as validated by Ludwig AI. It functions as a descriptive phrase to indicate that something is excessively high, inclined, or challenging. While its frequency is uncommon, the phrase appears in a variety of contexts including News & Media and Science. When deciding whether to use "is rather steep", consider if a more precise or formal term would be more appropriate for your specific audience or context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is quite expensive

Replaces 'steep' with 'expensive', focusing on cost.

is fairly high

Uses a more general term 'high' to indicate a significant level or amount.

is rather challenging

Focuses on the difficulty aspect rather than a literal steepness.

is considerably elevated

Emphasizes a higher level with a formal tone.

is notably sharp

Emphasizes a sharp incline or increase.

is substantially increased

Highlights a significant increase or rise.

is relatively severe

Conveys intensity or seriousness.

is markedly pronounced

Focuses on the clear and noticeable nature of something.

is somewhat excessive

Suggests that something is more than necessary or reasonable.

is a bit much

An informal way of saying something is excessive or difficult.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "is rather steep"?

When something "is rather steep", it means it's excessively high, difficult, or inclined. The intensity of the characteristic is notable. Consider alternatives like "is quite high" or "is fairly challenging" depending on the situation.

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

You can use "is rather steep" to describe things like prices, slopes, or challenges. For example, "The price of that car is rather steep" or "The climb to the summit is rather steep".

What are some alternatives to "is rather steep"?

Depending on the context, alternatives could include "is quite expensive" for prices, "is very inclined" for slopes, or "is quite challenging" for difficulties.

In what situations should I avoid using "is rather steep"?

While generally acceptable, "is rather steep" might be too informal for highly formal or technical writing. In such cases, opt for more precise or elevated language. Also, avoid using it if you can provide concrete data instead.