moderately tall

USAGE SUMMARY

"moderately tall" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person's height, for example: "The boy was moderately tall for his age."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Appearance: Moderately tall and lean.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He planned the layout of the whole development-the result was Parkchester, a modern, self-contained community of 40,000 people who live at low rentals in moderately tall bldgs surrounded by generous garden areas.

The New Yorker

However, all those clubs who completed what we have to call acts of giant-killing (even though Ipswich, Blackpool, Blackburn and Brighton are only moderately tall) in the League Cup failed to win on Saturday.

Independent

Studies of xylem transport in moderately tall trees now abound, but those of individuals close to historic maximum heights for a species, and of long distance transport in the phloem, are scarce.

Vascular Transport in Plants

Those at Shivpuri (lower Himalayas) had moderately tall clumps (approx. range 2 4 m) that were partially closed and intertwined with a mixture of solid and hollow culms, while clumps of bamboos in the Chiriapur locality (close to River Ganges) were shorter, bushy, closed and highly intertwined with solid culms (approx. range 1.1 1.5 m).

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

The second dorsal fin is moderately tall and positioned about opposite the anal fin.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

However, males were moderately taller (p = 0.005), very largely heavier (p < 0.001), and trained at a very large-amount higher volume than females (p = 0.001).

Sports Medicine - Open

In particular, we focus on shoot elongation responses to rising floodwater during the vegetative stage to examine whether the faster elongation typical of deepwater rice would be a benefit under SF, compared with moderately taller genotypes or the semidwarf types possessing slower elongation ability with rising water.

AoB PLANTS

The first dorsal fin is tall and moderately falcate (sickle-shaped), with the origin over the pectoral fin rear tips.

Wikipedia

Tolerant varieties were found to be either inherently tall or elongate moderately with rising floodwater.

AoB PLANTS

Tolerant varieties were either inherently tall or elongate moderately (<2.0 cm d−1) with rising floodwater.

AoB PLANTS

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical attributes, use "moderately tall" to convey a height that is above average but not exceptionally so. This provides a balanced and precise description.

Common error

Avoid using "moderately tall" when a more specific measurement or comparison would provide a clearer picture. For example, instead of "the building was moderately tall", consider "the building was 15 stories high" or "the building was taller than the surrounding structures".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "moderately tall" functions as a descriptive modifier. The adverb 'moderately' intensifies the adjective 'tall', indicating a degree of height that is above average but not extreme. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with multiple examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "moderately tall" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a height that is above average but not exceptionally so. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase functions effectively as a descriptive modifier across various contexts, including News & Media, Science and Wiki. While it's a useful expression to use, remember to be specific whenever possible to avoid vague descriptions and improve clarity in writing. Alternatives such as "somewhat tall" or "relatively tall" can offer more nuance depending on your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat tall

Indicates a slightly lesser degree of tallness compared to "moderately tall".

relatively tall

Implies tallness in comparison to something else, shifting the focus to relative height.

fairly tall

Suggests a slightly higher degree of tallness than "moderately tall".

averagely tall

Highlights that the height is around the average level of tallness.

medium-tall

Combines 'medium' and 'tall' to indicate a height that is neither short nor excessively tall.

of medium height

Focuses on height being in the middle range, though leaning towards tallness.

passably tall

Emphasizes that the height is acceptable or sufficient as tall.

measurably tall

Indicates that the height is significant enough to be measured as tall.

noticeably tall

Highlights that the tallness is easily observed or perceived.

not excessively tall

Emphasizes the absence of extreme tallness, implying a controlled or limited degree of height.

FAQs

How can I use "moderately tall" in a sentence?

You can use "moderately tall" to describe the height of objects or people, such as, "The basketball player was "moderately tall" for his age" or "The building was "moderately tall", standing out from the smaller houses around it".

What are some alternatives to "moderately tall"?

Alternatives include "somewhat tall", "relatively tall", or "fairly tall". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey about the height.

Is "moderately tall" a subjective or objective description?

"Moderately tall" is somewhat subjective. While it implies a height that is above average, the exact interpretation can vary depending on context and individual perception. Using a precise measurement provides an objective description.

Can "moderately tall" be used to describe abstract concepts?

While primarily used for physical height, you can extend "moderately tall" metaphorically. For example, you could describe someone's ambition as "moderately tall", implying they have significant goals, but they're not overly ambitious.