rather equal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather equal" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or unclear.
It can be used to express a comparison where two things are approximately equal, but it is better to use it in informal contexts or when the meaning is clear. Example: "In terms of skill level, the two players are rather equal, making the match quite competitive."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

For the rest [it's] a rather equal split".

Science Magazine

The time for glucose consumption of beads 4 and 2 mm at flow rate 30 and 90 ml/min was rather equal using 4 and 10 g/l (Fig. 4).

AMB Express

The position of all Gaussian emissions of Figure 5b show a rather equal blueshift compared to the membrane of Figure 5a (see for instance peaks 1 and 2 in both figures).

Nanoscale Research Letters

Time for glucose consumption by chitosan coated beads, at 30 and 90 ml/min is rather equal when using higher glucose concentration i.e. 40 and 20 g/l as compared to lower glucose concentration 10, 4 and 2 g/l.

AMB Express

They are chosen such that the numbers of song extracts which belong to each of the two levels are rather equal, and in addition, a clear gap between the two levels is ensured.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

These results show that an increase in anodizing voltage from 100 to 115 V leads a rather equal amount of redshift in the position of all the PL emissions, see for instance peaks 1 and 2 in Figure 3a,b.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

So, this prompts a definition whereby the level of innovativeness is not a distinct development but rather equals to the degree of originality.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Contrary to your point, we do not view The Onion and The Daily Show as "copycats", but rather equals... colleagues... brothers-in-arms in the world of comedy.

Huffington Post

In this regard, it's noteworthy that Justice DeGrasse's order endorsed the notion of "adequate," rather than "equal" funding -- an idea that advocates for school-finance reform have advanced for 10 years.

The New York Times

"What women need is to be able to be equivalent, rather than equal.

The Guardian

Yet despite the scoreline it was a rather more equal contest than its successor in 2009.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In technical contexts, specify the parameters within which the items are "rather equal" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "rather equal" in highly formal or academic writing where a more precise term might be expected. Instead, opt for alternatives like "approximately equivalent" or "nearly identical" to convey a stronger sense of accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather equal" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of approximate equality. Ludwig examples show its use in describing distributions, measurements, or qualities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

21%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather equal" is a common way to express that two or more things are approximately the same, though not perfectly identical. Ludwig indicates that its usage is acceptable but leans towards the informal side. It frequently appears in scientific and news contexts. While grammatically sound, more precise alternatives should be considered for formal writing. Some options include "fairly similar" or "roughly equivalent". Remember to specify parameters in technical contexts to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly similar

Indicates a slightly weaker degree of similarity than "rather equal".

roughly equivalent

Focuses on the functional equivalence despite minor differences.

approximately the same

Highlights the quantitative aspect of being nearly identical.

nearly identical

Emphasizes a high degree of resemblance with only slight variations.

substantially alike

Implies a significant degree of similarity, though not perfect.

comparatively uniform

Suggests consistency across different elements being compared.

more or less comparable

Acknowledges slight differences but suggests an overall similarity.

moderately alike

Indicates a medium level of similarity, less strong than "nearly identical".

somewhat close

Suggests proximity in value or characteristic, without being precisely equal.

generally similar

Highlights an overall likeness, allowing for some deviations.

FAQs

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

Use "rather equal" to indicate that two things are approximately equal or similar. For example, "The test scores of both groups were rather equal."

What are some alternatives to "rather equal"?

You can use alternatives like "fairly similar", "roughly equivalent", or "approximately the same" depending on the context.

Is "rather equal" formal or informal?

"Rather equal" leans towards the informal side. In formal writing, more precise alternatives like "nearly identical" or "substantially alike" might be preferable.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "rather equal"?

It is appropriate in general conversation and writing where approximation is acceptable. In technical or academic contexts, providing specific data might be more effective than using "rather equal".