rapidity

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rapidity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is done or occurs quickly or with great speed. For example, "With the rapidity of a lightning bolt, the cat jumped out of the way of the falling box."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While some clinicians have attributed memory defect largely to defective registration of experience (i.e., failure to form memory traces), the widely accepted view is that it results primarily from a greatly increased rapidity of forgetting (i.e., rapid decay of memory traces).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Given the rapidity of Mr Netanyahu's loss of height, politicians on both sides of the Knesset have begun seriously to consider whether it can be used to force his ejection.

The Economist

"It occurred to me", wrote Richard Gatling in 1877, "that if I could invent a machine a gun which could, by rapidity of fire, enable one man to do as much battle duty as a hundred, that it would, to a great extent, supersede the necessity of large armies".

The Economist

IN THE autumn of 2008, the banking sector collapsed with remarkable rapidity.

The Economist

As a result, the amount of processing a chip can perform with each tick of the clock will be just as important as the frequency at which the clock is ticking.A driving factor behind this parallelism is the fact that, while processor speed has increased with such remarkable rapidity, the speed of memories has lagged.

The Economist

Sides switch, and coats are turned, with bewildering rapidity.

The Economist

The rest comes from some 700 amendments, which are appearing with increasing rapidity (52 in 2000 alone).

The Economist

In recent years no small car, not even the new Mini (designed by Frank Stephenson, the man behind the new 500), has been greeted with such enthusiasm.But as Fiat itself shows, fortunes in the car industry can turn with extraordinary rapidity.

The Economist

That is a rapidity most researchers can only dream of.Note: this article first appeared online on April 23rd.

The Economist

In Argentina, President Carlos Menem's high-speed liberalisation has transformed the market for managers with equal rapidity.

The Economist

But the police still have to contact thousands of people on Mr Mulcaire's list, and it is not hard to imagine the possibility that they could be speaking to an American or two.Freedom, accountability, pluralityWhatever the fallout across the Atlantic, the Milly Dowler hacking revelations have changed British political attitudes to media regulation with startling rapidity.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rapidity" to emphasize the quickness or speed of an event or process, especially when a more formal tone is desired. For example, "The "rapidity" of technological advancements is transforming industries".

Common error

Avoid using "rapidity" in casual conversation or informal writing. Alternatives like "speed" or "quickness" are often more appropriate in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "rapidity" is as a noun, denoting the quality or state of being rapid or quick. It is used to describe the speed or swiftness with which something occurs, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

35%

Science

27%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rapidity" functions as a noun that signifies the quality of being rapid or quick. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in formal writing. It appears most frequently in news, encyclopedic, and scientific contexts, emphasizing its formal register. While alternatives like "speed" and "swiftness" exist, "rapidity" is preferred in more formal settings to highlight the efficiency and swiftness of an event or process. Remember to avoid overuse in casual conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swiftness

Focuses on the quality of being quick and efficient.

speed

A general term for how quickly something moves or happens.

quickness

Emphasizes the promptness or immediacy of an action.

celerity

A more formal term for speed, often suggesting briskness.

swift motion

Highlights the movement aspect of speed.

expeditiousness

Focuses on efficiency and promptness in completing a task.

high velocity

Emphasizes the rate of change in position.

rapid pace

Highlights the rate at which something progresses.

accelerated rate

Indicates an increasing speed or pace.

promptness

Emphasizes being on time and without delay.

FAQs

How to use "rapidity" in a sentence?

"Rapidity" is used to describe the speed or quickness of something. For instance, "The "rapidity" of the response surprised everyone".

What can I say instead of "rapidity"?

You can use alternatives like "swiftness", "speed", or "quickness" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "rapidity" or "rapidness"?

Both "rapidity" and "rapidness" are correct, but "rapidity" is more commonly used and generally preferred.

What's the difference between "rapidity" and "velocity"?

"Rapidity" generally refers to speed or quickness, while "velocity" is a more technical term referring to the rate of change of position, often with a specified direction.