rather boring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather boring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a mild level of boredom or disinterest in something, often in a subjective context. Example: "The movie was entertaining at first, but it became rather boring in the second half."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A second was rather boring.

The New York Times - Food

It got rather boring.

The Guardian - Sport

And the content may be rather boring.

The New Yorker

The facts are rather boring.

The Guardian - Opinion

And yet, it's still rather boring.

The Guardian - Film

Others bluntly expressed the view that Lincoln was rather boring.

Independent

Sandy was a Medieval scholar, poor and rather boring.

The New Yorker

I remember thinking poetry was mostly rather boring.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Noh, the way one sees it today, is actually rather boring.

The New York Times - Arts

They may sound a bit hysterical to a western audience that finds history rather boring.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Like many VR games, it sounds rather… boring.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. While "rather boring" is generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "somewhat uninteresting".

Common error

While "rather boring" is versatile, avoid overusing it in casual conversations. Opt for more expressive and informal alternatives like "dull" or "tedious" to maintain a natural and engaging tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather boring" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to express a mild level of disinterest or lack of excitement. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing various subjects, from food to lectures, indicating a subjective assessment of their appeal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather boring" is a common adjective phrase used to express a mild level of disinterest or lack of excitement. As Ludwig AI explains, it is grammatically correct and versatile, appearing frequently in news and media sources. It is important to consider the context and audience when using "rather boring", as more formal or informal alternatives may be more appropriate. While versatile, be mindful of overusing it. Overall, it's a useful phrase for conveying a nuanced opinion without being overly critical.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat uninteresting

Replaces "boring" with a more formal synonym and "rather" with "somewhat", indicating a slightly more detached tone.

slightly dull

Substitutes "boring" with "dull" and "rather" with "slightly", suggesting a mild lack of excitement.

a bit tedious

Replaces "boring" with "tedious", highlighting the repetitive and tiresome aspect of the subject.

kind of monotonous

Uses "monotonous" instead of "boring", emphasizing the lack of variation and excitement.

not very engaging

Focuses on the lack of ability to capture attention or interest.

fairly uneventful

Highlights the absence of significant or interesting events.

pretty humdrum

Uses the informal term "humdrum" instead of "boring", suggesting a lack of excitement in a casual manner.

quite unexciting

Directly negates excitement, indicating a lack of stimulation.

rather bland

Replaces "boring" with "bland", suggesting a lack of distinctive character or flavor, metaphorically speaking.

nothing to write home about

An idiomatic expression indicating something is unremarkable or not particularly interesting.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather boring" to describe something you find mildly uninteresting. For example, "The lecture was entertaining at first, but it became "rather boring" in the second half."

What are some alternatives to "rather boring"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat uninteresting", "slightly dull", or "a bit tedious" depending on the context.

Is "rather boring" formal or informal?

"Rather boring" is generally considered neutral in tone. It's more polite than saying something is "very boring" but less formal than saying it's ""somewhat uninteresting"".

What's the difference between "rather boring" and "very boring"?

"Rather boring" expresses a milder sentiment than "very boring". "Very boring" suggests a stronger feeling of disinterest or tedium.