rather based

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather based" is not standard in written English and may be considered awkward or unclear.
It could be used in informal contexts to suggest that something is somewhat or relatively grounded in a particular idea or principle, but it lacks clarity. Example: "His argument is rather based on personal experience rather than empirical evidence."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It didn't inspire the '63, but was rather based upon it".

The New York Times

The F.D.A. has said that its policy toward gay men is not discriminatory but rather based on statistics.

The New York Times - Health

He is now insisting that his attacks on Ms. Seitz are not partisan, but rather based on her competence.

The New York Times

It was, rather, based on a claim that the Obama Administration violated the A.C.A. itself by offering subsidies to purchasers on the federal exchange.

The New Yorker

"The claims were not defended on the basis of factual differences between the parties; but rather based on the appropriate interpretation of European human rights law.

The Guardian

One label points out that in discussing art, the term Arab-Islamic "does not necessarily refer to art based on religion, but rather based on culture".

The New York Times

Rather, based on Israel's past experience, the proceeds will likely serve to fund further terror attacks against Israel… A gas transaction with the Palestinian Authority [PA] will, by definition, involve Hamas.

The Guardian

Rather, based on the narrative I was able to piece together listening to the police, he had supposedly been driving a stolen vehicle erratically when a van containing officers of the Brooklyn South Narcotics Unit noticed him.

The New York Times - Magazine

The authors insist that in the long term, the right way to cut emissions is not according to politically negotiated targets, but rather "based on the contraction and convergence approach".

The Economist

Dr. Melnick said the success of the project would depend in large part on the degree to which actions were not created by theorists a thousand miles away but rather based on "a model worked out here," with the agreement of national and local leaders.

The New York Times - Science

Mr. Chesney has become a success not for these contemplative moments but rather based on his belief that there's no problem that can't be solved with a pair of flip-flops, a catamaran and a willingness to bury your problems — and possibly your head — in the sand.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, consider replacing the phrase "rather based" with stronger, more direct alternatives such as "primarily based", "mainly based", or "largely based".

Common error

Avoid using "rather based" in overly passive constructions that obscure the subject. Instead, rephrase to highlight the active element or agent responsible for the basing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather based" functions as a qualifying prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun. It indicates the foundation or reason for something, often suggesting a preference or alternative basis. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase may be perceived as awkward or unclear, and the advice is to look for alternative phrases.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rather based" is a fairly common phrase used to indicate the foundation or rationale behind something. While acceptable, as indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is sometimes verbose and can be replaced with more direct alternatives like "primarily based" or "mainly based". The phrase appears frequently in science and news media, and its function is to provide explanation or justification for a decision or action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily founded on

Emphasizes that the foundation is the main aspect but uses different phrasing.

largely predicated upon

Uses a more formal and emphatic way to indicate a base or foundation.

mainly built upon

Suggests construction and dependence on a base, altering the metaphor slightly.

essentially stemming from

Focuses on the origin or starting point, shifting the emphasis from the base itself.

fundamentally rooted in

Implies a deeper and more inherent connection to the foundational element.

principally anchored to

Suggests a secure and firm connection, differing from a simple base.

chiefly deriving from

Highlights the source or origin as the primary factor, with an emphasis on obtaining something from that source.

primarily drawing from

Focuses on selecting and utilizing elements from a source, subtly changing the relationship.

largely dependent on

Shifts the focus to reliance on something, making the relationship one of dependence.

primarily reliant upon

Stresses the reliance on a particular factor, placing importance on the dependence.

FAQs

How can I use "rather based" in a sentence?

You can use "rather based" to indicate the foundation or basis of something, as in, "The decision was rather based on intuition than data."

What can I say instead of "rather based"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily based", "mainly based", or "largely based" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "rather based on" or "based on"?

"Based on" is generally more concise and direct. "Rather based on" implies a degree of preference or qualification but can often be omitted without loss of meaning.

What's the difference between "rather based on" and "somewhat based on"?

"Rather based on" and "somewhat based on" are very similar. You could also use other alternatives phrases such as "primarily based", "mainly based", or "largely based".