rather agree

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather agree" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in informal contexts to express a moderate level of agreement, but it is not commonly accepted. Example: "I would rather agree with your point of view than oppose it."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

I rather agree with the Pope….

Independent

Or, rather, agree but wish she would not say.

The New Yorker

Our primary comes very late: we'd really rather agree than decide.

The New York Times

"I rather agree with the [Wall Street] Journal this morning, which sort of lacerated Romney," said Murdoch, who owns the Wall Street Journal.

The Guardian

In fact, and I say this with some amazement at this statement's largesse, I would rather agree to interact with Naomi Campbell on a daily basis for 30 days than watch one more episode.

Independent

In fact, I rather agree with Richard D. Land, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, who calls Mormonism a fourth Abrahamic religion, along with Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

It was an idea he embraced, and I rather agreed with him that Clegg would make an excellent one.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was the slightest pause before Allen retorted with a sigh, "Well, if you can't patronise Ian Fleming, who can you patronise?" It was a view I rather agreed with at the time, and for some years afterwards.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Rather agreed to step down from the "CBS Evening News" in March 2005, a year earlier than he had planned, after the network said it could not authenticate documents that had been used as evidence in the segment about Mr. Bush's time in the Air National Guard.

The New York Times

Microsoft decided not to appeal as it had previously threatened, but rather agreed to transition its service to a new brand.

TechCrunch

The variety of TBDT classes found in Anabaena sp. rather agrees with iron limited environmental conditions.

BMC Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, consider using alternatives like "somewhat agree" or "partially agree" to convey a moderate level of agreement more directly.

Common error

Avoid using "rather agree" in formal academic or professional writing. Opt for stronger, more conventional alternatives such as "largely agree" or "mostly concur" for increased impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather agree" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a verb, indicating a moderate level of agreement. Ludwig examples show its usage in expressing partial or qualified agreement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

59%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "rather agree" is a grammatically acceptable phrase to indicate a moderate level of agreement, it is less common than alternatives like "somewhat agree" or "partially agree". As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase may sound unusual. It sees use in a variety of contexts including news, science, and informal writing, but is best to avoid in highly formal or academic settings. When aiming for maximum clarity and impact, consider opting for stronger, more conventional alternatives to convey your sentiment more effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat agree

Expresses a moderate level of agreement, similar to "rather agree" but slightly more common.

partially agree

Indicates agreement on some aspects but not necessarily all, offering a more nuanced stance.

tend to agree

Suggests a general inclination toward agreement without fully committing.

generally concur

A more formal way to express overall agreement.

find myself agreeing

Highlights a personal realization of agreement, often after some consideration.

sympathize with

Shares similar feelings or opinions, less direct than agreement but still aligned.

see eye to eye

Indicates perfect agreement with someone.

incline to agree

Implies a leaning towards agreement but may not be fully decided.

mostly agree

Acknowledges agreement on the majority of points but allows for some disagreement.

concur to some extent

Expresses partial agreement in a formal style.

FAQs

What does "rather agree" mean?

The phrase "rather agree" suggests a moderate level of agreement. It's less emphatic than "strongly agree" but indicates more than just a slight inclination. A phrase such as "somewhat agree" can be used as an alternative.

Is it correct to say "rather agree"?

While not incorrect, "rather agree" is not as common as other phrases expressing agreement. Using alternatives like "mostly agree" or "generally concur" may sound more natural and clear to a wider audience.

Which is better, "rather agree" or "somewhat agree"?

"Somewhat agree" is generally preferred over "rather agree" because it is more common and widely understood. Both indicate a moderate level of agreement, but "somewhat agree" tends to be clearer in modern English.

What are some formal alternatives to "rather agree"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "largely agree", "substantially agree", or "generally concur" to convey a more polished and precise sense of agreement.