rather critical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather critical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation, opinion, or assessment that is significantly negative or important. Example: "The report was rather critical of the company's management practices, highlighting several areas for improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"The situation is rather critical," he said.

The Guardian

Back then, my mother was alive, and rather critical.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That's rather critical, because when it's not online, a Chromebook can't do much of anything.

The New York Times - Tech

The majority of the tweets seem to be rather critical of the service but there are people that support it.

The Guardian

As we prepare for the Copenhagen summit, I am rather critical of my naivety 12 years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. O'Neill, the committee co-chairman, said Mr. Rowland "has at times been rather critical of our committee or of our attorneys".

The New York Times

There is a rather critical situation going on in the Legislative Yuan which none of us expected when we arrived in Taipei.

The Economist

On the other hand, not many of us ingest enough caffeine to dry out our eyeballs and give us blurry vision — something rather critical to a baseball player — so all ridicule seems to be fair game.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

This ambiguity leads critics of postmodernism to accuse cult films of being beyond criticism, as the emphasis is now on personal interpretation rather than critical analysis or metanarratives.

Wikipedia

This gave rise to the criticism that bioethicists had become advocates and facilitators of science and technology rather than critical assessors of their societal impact.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

This is Lehrer in speculative rather than critical mode.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather critical" when you want to express a negative assessment or highlight the significant importance of something, but avoid overuse to maintain impact.

Common error

Avoid using "rather critical" when a milder term would suffice. Overusing it can weaken your writing and sound overly judgmental. Consider alternatives like "somewhat critical" or "slightly important" for less intense situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather critical" functions primarily as an intensifier followed by an adjective. It modifies the adjective 'critical' to indicate a notable degree of criticality, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather critical" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a notable level of importance or a significant degree of criticism. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. While "rather critical" appears frequently in "News & Media" and "Science", careful consideration of the writing context is important to avoid overuse or misapplication. Alternatives like "quite critical" or "highly important" can be used depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey. Always consider audience and tone to ensure the phrase aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite critical

Indicates a similar level of criticality but with a slightly different emphasis.

very critical

Emphasizes a higher degree of criticality or importance.

fairly critical

Suggests a slightly lesser degree of criticality compared to "rather critical".

somewhat critical

Indicates a moderate level of criticality.

highly important

Focuses on the importance of something, rather than its negative aspect.

extremely important

Emphasizes a higher degree of importance.

quite important

Similar to 'highly important' but with a bit different focus.

very important

Highlights significance, downplaying possible critique.

significantly important

Highlights a considerable degree of significance.

absolutely essential

Indicates something is completely necessary or vital.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather critical" to express a significant level of criticism or importance, such as, "The reviewer was rather critical of the new policy", or "Maintaining data security is a rather critical aspect of our business".

What's a less intense alternative to "rather critical"?

Alternatives include "somewhat critical", "fairly critical", or "slightly critical", depending on the context and the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "rather critical" in formal writing?

While "rather critical" is grammatically correct, consider your audience and the tone of your writing. In some formal contexts, a more direct or specific phrasing might be preferable.

What can I say instead of "rather critical" when emphasizing importance?

If you want to emphasize importance, consider alternatives like "highly important", "extremely important", or "absolutely essential".