rather called

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather called" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express a preference for a different name or term, but it is better to use more common expressions. Example: "The phenomenon is rather called a 'supernova' in astronomical terms."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Mr. Rather called Mr. Pelley "unrelentingly persistent and determined".

The New York Times

Mr. Rather called it a "good day" for his side and — referring to the name for the CBS headquarters — "a bad day for Black Rock".

The New York Times

Aufstehn distributed 50,000 political door hangers across the country: crucially, though they weren't emblazoned with Van der Bellen's name, but rather called for a "respectful togetherness, a tolerant and internationally renowned Austria".

The Guardian - Opinion

American distress came from no failure of substance, but rather called for the stimulation, reorganisation and use of American resources, for the recognition of the over-balance of the population in the industrial centres and for an endeavour to provide better use of the land.

The Economist

When the homotopic parameter λ is a real number and when the path is linear3 in λ, the homotopy method is rather called a continuation method.

Pacific Journal of Mathematics for Industry

Verizon and Motorola have jointly developed the new Media Server platform, which doesn't have a snazzy name like "Apple TV" or "Google TV," but is rather called the Motorola Medios+ VMS1100 Media Server and the Motorola Mediaos+ IPC1100 IP-based set-top.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

What would you rather call it?

MIT Technology Review

Rather calls into question my entire worldview.

The Guardian - Sport

I'd much rather call someone a loser.

The New York Times

"I would rather call it unobtrusive computing," he said.

The New York Times - Tech

They'd rather call their geek friend for advice whenever problems inevitably come up.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for precision, substitute "rather called" with more specific alternatives like "more accurately termed" or "better described as" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "rather called" excessively in formal writing. It can sound awkward. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather called" functions as a modifier, suggesting a preferred or more accurate term. As shown in Ludwig, it indicates a desire to refine or correct a previously used descriptor.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather called" is a phrase used to suggest a more appropriate or accurate term, as analyzed by Ludwig. While grammatically acceptable, it's not always the most elegant choice. According to Ludwig, its frequency is uncommon, primarily appearing in news, media, and scientific contexts. For enhanced clarity and style, consider alternatives like "more accurately termed" or "better described as". Despite the 'Acceptable' grammatical status assigned by Ludwig, using synonyms can strengthen your writing, particularly in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more appropriately termed

Focuses on accuracy and suitability of the term.

better described as

Emphasizes the improved clarity of the alternative description.

more accurately designated

Highlights the increased precision of the designation.

preferably referred to as

Indicates a suggested or favored term.

might be termed instead

Suggests a possible substitution of the term.

is perhaps best known as

Indicates how things are generally called.

could alternatively be named

Presents another naming option.

is sometimes known as

This one stresses that the term in question is already known.

might also be considered

Offers a different perspective on how to label something.

is often thought of as

Highlights a common, but potentially imprecise, interpretation.

FAQs

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

Use "rather called" when you want to suggest a more appropriate or accurate term for something. For example, "The approach is "better described as" collaborative, not coercive".

What is a more formal alternative to "rather called"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "more accurately termed", "more appropriately designated", or "preferably referred to as".

Is "rather called" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "rather called" is not the most common or elegant phrasing. It's acceptable, but using a synonym can often improve clarity and style.

What's the difference between "rather called" and "so called"?

"Rather called" suggests a preferred term, while "so called" implies skepticism or doubt about the term being used.