it is rather strange

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is rather strange" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something is unusual or unexpected in a particular context. Example: "When I found the old photograph in the attic, it is rather strange to think about how much time has passed since then."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It is rather strange that the classical mythological tradition neglects this characteristic of centaurs.

The New Yorker

Okay, okay, you know what, this seems strange because it is rather strange.

The Guardian - Sport

Maggot Moon is so gorgeously different that it does disorientate and it is rather strange - but she went ahead and wrote it anyway.

The Guardian

He said: "It is rather strange that they said nothing when MPs were embezzling millions of pounds on furnishing their homes whilst our boys were being blown to smithereens because of a lack of funding for equipment".

The Guardian

In responding to Nieuwentijdt's assertion that squares and higher powers of infinitesimals vanish, Leibniz objected that it is rather strange to posit that a segment dx is different from zero and at the same time that the area of a square with side dx is equal to zero (Mancosu 1996, 161).

SEP

Maybe it's a historical thing, it is rather strange that when you do feel ill you think, oh it's just a sniffle, oh it's just nothing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I thought it was rather strange they stopped running the show.

The New York Times

It's rather strange selling all over the world in a place that's very rural.

The Guardian

"I thought it was rather strange the manner in which they chose to do this," she said of E-Z.

The New York Times

12.45pm GMT In the Sky studio It's rather strange to see Ricky Ponting offering up the expert analysis, isn't it?

The Guardian - Sport

"It's rather strange, don't you think, that the military gets involved in the electric-power generating business?" asked one senior American official.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is rather strange" to express mild surprise or bewilderment in a neutral or slightly formal context. It's suitable when you want to point out something is out of the ordinary without sounding overly critical or judgmental.

Common error

While "it is rather strange" is a perfectly valid expression, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "it is rather odd" or "it is somewhat unusual" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is rather strange" functions as an evaluative expression. It introduces a subjective assessment of a situation, event, or idea as being unexpected or out of the ordinary. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it is rather strange" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to express mild surprise or a sense of something being out of the ordinary. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and appropriate. It is frequently used in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While effective, overuse can lead to repetitiveness, so consider using synonyms such as "it is somewhat odd" or "it is a bit unusual" to maintain variety in your writing. The key is to use it when you want to point out something that deviates from the norm without being overly critical or judgmental.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's quite peculiar

Replaces "rather strange" with "quite peculiar", altering the tone slightly towards something more unusual.

it's somewhat odd

Substitutes "rather strange" with "somewhat odd", indicating a slightly milder degree of strangeness.

it is a bit unusual

Replaces "rather strange" with "a bit unusual", presenting a less intense form of surprise or bewilderment.

it's fairly curious

Uses "fairly curious" in place of "rather strange", suggesting a level of interest mixed with surprise.

it's kind of weird

Employs "kind of weird" instead of "rather strange", leaning towards a more informal and colloquial expression.

that's quite unusual

Changes the sentence structure and replaces "rather strange" with "quite unusual", focusing on the unusual aspect.

that seems atypical

Offers a more formal alternative, using "atypical" to convey the sense of something deviating from the norm.

that's somewhat unexpected

Replaces the direct description of "strange" with the implication of being "unexpected", shifting the focus slightly.

this is rather peculiar

Swaps "it" with "this" and "strange" with "peculiar", offering a slightly more emphatic variation.

this is a little bizarre

Replaces "rather strange" with "a little bizarre", amplifying the sense of oddness and peculiarity.

FAQs

How can I use "it is rather strange" in a sentence?

Use "it is rather strange" to express mild surprise or a sense of something being out of the ordinary. For example, "It is rather strange that he didn't mention his promotion."

What are some alternatives to "it is rather strange"?

You can use alternatives like "it is rather odd", "it is somewhat unusual", or "that seems atypical" depending on the context.

Is "it is rather strange" formal or informal?

"It is rather strange" is generally considered to be neutral to slightly formal. More informal options include phrases like "it is kind of weird".

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

"It is rather strange" expresses a milder degree of surprise or oddness compared to "it is very strange". The use of "rather" softens the statement.