pretty higher

USAGE SUMMARY

'pretty higher' is not correct and should not be used in written English.
Instead you could use the phrase 'quite high' to convey the same meaning. Example: The temperature was quite high yesterday.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The results indicate that the system obtains pretty higher COP as compared with the conventional vapor compression refrigeration system.

Energy Procedia

Four years ago was 81%, pretty higher.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Pretty high altitude".

Independent

It's pretty high.

The New York Times

That's pretty high-level.

The New Yorker

"My frustration was pretty high".

The New York Times

"The stakes are pretty high.

Independent

That's pretty high".

The New York Times

"I aim pretty high.

The Guardian - Sport

Prices were pretty high".

The New York Times

Turnout was pretty high.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "pretty higher" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "quite high" or "fairly high" to maintain clarity and credibility.

Common error

Do not use "pretty" directly to modify comparative adjectives like "higher". "Pretty" typically modifies positive adjectives. Use adverbs like "quite", "fairly", or "considerably" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty higher" functions as an attempted intensifier (pretty) modifying a comparative adjective (higher). However, this construction is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms it should not be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pretty higher" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction doesn't follow standard English grammar rules. Although the intention is to express a notable increase or elevation, better alternatives include "quite high", "fairly high", or "significantly higher", which provide grammatical correctness and clarity. The phrase is rare, with limited occurrences primarily in news and scientific contexts, but it's best to opt for more standard expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite high

Replaces "pretty higher" with a standard and grammatically correct way to express a significant degree.

fairly high

Offers a slightly more formal tone than "quite high" while maintaining grammatical correctness.

considerably higher

Emphasizes a larger difference in degree compared to "pretty higher".

significantly higher

Highlights the importance or impact of the increased degree.

noticeably higher

Focuses on the ease with which the difference in degree can be observed.

markedly higher

Indicates a clear and distinct increase.

substantially higher

Suggests a large or significant amount of increase.

appreciably higher

Implies that the increase is large enough to be important or have a noticeable effect.

moderately high

Uses a more standard way to say something is reasonably high, without the grammatical error.

somewhat high

Indicates a slight increase or degree that is more grammatically sound.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct way to say something is 'pretty higher'?

Instead of "pretty higher", use phrases like "quite high", "fairly high", or "significantly higher" to maintain proper grammar.

Is 'pretty higher' considered correct in formal English?

No, "pretty higher" is not considered correct in formal English. It's best to use standard comparative forms and adverbs like "much higher" or "considerably higher".

Which is correct, 'pretty higher' or 'pretty high'?

"Pretty high" is a correct and commonly used phrase, while "pretty higher" is grammatically incorrect. The word "pretty" can modify a positive adjective such as "high", but cannot be directly used before the comparative adjective "higher".

What can I say instead of "pretty higher" in academic writing?

In academic writing, use more precise and formal alternatives like "considerably higher", "significantly higher", or "markedly higher" to ensure clarity and professionalism.