rather coarse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather coarse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is rough, unrefined, or lacking in delicacy, often in relation to texture or behavior. Example: "The fabric felt rather coarse against my skin, making it uncomfortable to wear for long periods."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Rather — coarse".

The New York Times - Books

The brownish fur is woolly and rather coarse.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Sleek in reproduction, the painting, of a probably imaginary young woman, is rather coarse in person.

The New Yorker

It's possible that common milkweed has become a horticultural wallflower because of its large, rather coarse leaves.

The New York Times

Most novels come to seem, while one is reading Musil, rather coarse; most characters, too easily satisfied.

The Guardian - Books

Sleek in reproduction, the painting, of a probably imaginary young woman, is rather coarse when seen in person.

The New Yorker

One ploy often used to play down growing inequality is to rely on rather coarse statistical breakdowns -- dividing the population into five "quintiles," each containing 20percentt of families, or at most 10 "deciles".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

At present, Jonathan Berman's conducting is a rather coarse-grained affair: he has yet to unlock the beauties latent in Debussy's exquisitely calibrated score.

Independent

Defined policies are rather coarse-grained and simple.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

On the other hand, if one thinks of properties as causally operative entities in the physical world, one will want to provide rather coarse-grained identity conditions.

SEP

Even if there is something to the thought that inquiry aims at truth, it has to be admitted that truth is a rather coarse-grained property of propositions.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing textures, consider the specific sensory experience you want to evoke. "Rather coarse" suggests a noticeable roughness, so ensure it aligns with your intended imagery.

Common error

While "rather coarse" is generally acceptable, it can sound informal or judgmental in certain formal settings. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "somewhat rough" or "moderately granular" when precision and objectivity are paramount.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather coarse" primarily functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun to describe its quality. It softens the adjective "coarse", indicating a moderate degree of roughness or lack of refinement. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

27%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather coarse" is a correct and frequently used adverb-adjective combination that describes something as moderately rough or unrefined. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to consider the formality of the setting and choose alternatives when greater precision is needed. Top sources include The New York Times and Encyclopedia Britannica, attesting to its presence in credible publications. While fully correct "rather coarse" has a nuance, and is a powerful tool for conveying subtle degrees of texture or quality in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat rough

Indicates a slightly less intense degree of roughness compared to "rather coarse".

fairly crude

Emphasizes a lack of refinement and sophistication.

quite unrefined

Highlights the absence of processing or elegance.

relatively unpolished

Suggests a lack of finesse or smoothness.

slightly rugged

Implies a robustness or unevenness in texture or appearance.

a bit crude

Similar to "fairly crude" but with a slightly less formal tone.

somewhat unsophisticated

Focuses on the lack of complexity or advanced features.

moderately granular

Specifically refers to a texture composed of small grains.

noticeably unrefined

Emphasizes that lack of refinement is easily spotted or felt.

passably crude

Expresses something is just adequately crude, without being good quality.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather coarse" to describe textures, behaviors, or methods. For example, "The fabric felt rather coarse against my skin", "His language was rather coarse for a diplomatic event", or "The statistical analysis was based on a "rather coarse" data set".

What does "rather coarse" mean?

"Rather coarse" indicates that something is somewhat rough, unrefined, or lacking in delicacy. The intensity is moderate, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme quality.

What are some alternatives to "rather coarse"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "somewhat rough", "fairly crude", or "relatively unpolished". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "rather coarse" in formal writing?

While "rather coarse" is grammatically correct, it might be perceived as slightly informal in some formal contexts. Consider using more precise or neutral alternatives like "moderately granular" (for textures) or "somewhat unrefined" (for methods) in highly formal documents.