it rather sad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it rather sad" is not correct in English.
It should be "it is rather sad" or "it's rather sad." You can use it when expressing a feeling of sadness or disappointment about a situation. Example: "After hearing the news about the closure of the local library, I thought to myself, it's rather sad that the community will lose such a valuable resource."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He added: "The dramatic events that followed the writing of this letter make it rather sad.

The Guardian - Arts

"I find it rather sad that Guy Fawkes Day is edged out by Halloween," said the Guy Fawkes historian and author James Sharpe.

The New York Times

I enjoyed Nora Ephron's amusing parody of Stieg Larsson's "Millenium" novels, but also found it rather sad that the closest the magazine has come to covering mystery novels is to mock them.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It is, but I think it's rather sad.

Independent

In its own way, it's rather sad.

Huffington Post

"It was rather sad and not intended but it turned out fine," he said.

The New York Times

It's rather sad and humiliating – here they are, these two women, fighting it out to see how alluring they can be to men.

The Guardian - Film

People thought it somehow fitted with the mood of the 80s, but if anything that sort of resigned acceptance of things has got worse and it is rather sad that the play appears to be even more apposite now than it was then".

The Guardian

It's not the Royal Mail's fault that nobody writes letters any more, but it's rather sad.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's rather sad this has to be argued at all, but at least someone's doing it.

The Guardian

It's rather sad".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing sadness, use grammatically correct phrases such as "it is rather sad" or "it's quite sad" for clarity and proper communication.

Common error

Avoid omitting the verb "to be" (is, are, was, were) when constructing sentences to express feelings or observations. Saying "it rather sad" is grammatically incorrect; instead, use "it is rather sad" or "it's quite sad".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it rather sad" is typically intended to function as a statement expressing sadness or disappointment about a situation. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase lacks the necessary verb "is" to be grammatically correct. The correct forms are "it is rather sad" or "it's rather sad".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it rather sad" appears in some sources, it is grammatically incorrect because it omits the verb "is". Ludwig AI indicates that the correct forms are "it is rather sad" or "it's rather sad". This expression is used to convey feelings of sadness or disappointment, particularly in news and media contexts. When writing, ensure you include the verb "is" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite sad

This alternative includes the necessary verb "is" for grammatical correctness.

it's quite sad

This is a contraction of "it is quite sad", making it grammatically correct and slightly more informal.

it's rather unfortunate

This alternative uses "unfortunate" instead of "sad", offering a slightly different nuance while maintaining a similar level of formality.

it is somewhat sad

This alternative uses "somewhat" to soften the statement.

it's a bit sad

This alternative uses "a bit" to convey a milder degree of sadness.

it is a little sad

Similar to "a bit sad", this option suggests a slight degree of sadness.

that's rather sad

This alternative uses "that's" which changes the subject focus while keeping the general sentiment.

it seems rather sad

This alternative adds a sense of perception or observation.

that feels rather sad

This alternative focuses on the emotional feeling conveyed.

it all feels rather sad

This alternative emphasizes a comprehensive feeling of sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "it rather sad" correctly in a sentence?

The phrase "it rather sad" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this sentiment is to say "it is rather sad" or "it's quite sad".

What can I say instead of "it rather sad"?

You can use alternatives like "it is quite sad", "it is somewhat sad", or "it is a bit sad" to express a similar feeling.

Which is correct, "it rather sad" or "it is rather sad"?

"It is rather sad" is the grammatically correct option. "It rather sad" omits the necessary verb "is".

What's the difference between "it rather sad" and "that is rather sad"?

"It is rather sad" focuses on a specific subject previously mentioned or implied, while "that is rather sad" typically refers to a more general situation or event. The first expression should be used instead of the grammatically incorrect "it rather sad".