rather hasty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather hasty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or decision that is done quickly and without careful consideration. Example: "His rather hasty decision to quit his job without a backup plan left him in a difficult situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Along the way, it parodies Snow White's housekeeping and pokes fun at Sleeping Beauty's rather hasty romantic decisions.

The New York Times

This is not the first time that the New Generation Network authors have jumped to rather hasty conclusions.

The Guardian - Opinion

I WROTE a rather hasty post on Eric Holder's speech yesterday in which I compressed or neglected to make a couple of important points regarding laws requiring voters to show government-issued photo-IDs to vote.

The Economist

Hence his government's claim that Germany owes Greece more than £200bn in reparations from the Second World War – a demand that, given Germany's rather hasty legal resolution of such claims many years ago, may have some merit.

Independent

In one memo, Richard Berlin, the ambitious head of Hearst's magazine division, wrote to his boss about his "preliminary, and rather hasty" investigation of Welles, telling Hearst that the film-maker "acted as a front for the Communist party".

The Guardian - Film

having done a rather hasty reasearch and thinking it would also work on the iphone, i got the device a couple of weeks ago.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Further examples can be found in the now rather hasty-seeming excitement around the cluster of hotshot American directors (Spike Jonze, David O Russell, Andersons Wes and Paul Thomas), who emerged at the end of the 90s and whose fortunes have varied wildly since.

The Guardian - Film

I truly believe that Egypt has given us a lesson". The Israeli government has looked a little rattled by this sudden sense of malaise - Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu postponed a trip to Europe and a rather hasty-looking package of reforms has been assembled including a promise to build more student housing.

BBC

Wisely strategic, rather than hasty or emotional.

The New York Times - Books

Goodwill and continuous effort (rather than hasty crisis management) could get rid of these.

The Economist

When inference is not used to select the appropriate conception, the resulting theory is not an "induction," but rather a "hasty and imperfect hypothesis".

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather hasty" to critique decisions or actions, implying a lack of careful consideration and potential negative consequences. It's more nuanced than simply saying "fast" or "quick".

Common error

Avoid using "rather hasty" when simply describing speed without implying criticism. Opt for neutral terms like "quick" or "rapid" if the haste isn't problematic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather hasty" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun. It indicates that an action or decision was performed with undue speed and a lack of sufficient deliberation. Ludwig's examples showcase how it qualifies nouns like "decisions" or "investigations".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather hasty" is used to describe actions or decisions carried out quickly and without sufficient consideration. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in a range of contexts, particularly news and media. While it's a functional phrase, remember to consider alternatives like "somewhat rushed" or "a bit impulsive" depending on the specific context and desired nuance. Be mindful of overusing "rather hasty" in purely descriptive scenarios where no critique is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat rushed

Suggests a slightly less negative connotation than "rather hasty", implying speed but not necessarily recklessness.

a bit impulsive

Focuses on the spontaneous nature of the action, highlighting a lack of forethought.

slightly ill-considered

Emphasizes the lack of careful thought or planning behind the action.

somewhat precipitate

A more formal synonym implying undue haste and abruptness.

a little too quick

Highlights the speed of the decision or action, suggesting it might have been better to slow down.

fairly rapid

Focuses on the speed of the action, without necessarily implying negative consequences.

somewhat speedy

Similar to "fairly rapid", emphasizing quickness but less formal.

a little unthinking

Draws attention to the lack of consideration given before acting.

slightly reckless

Suggests a higher degree of risk and potential negative consequences associated with the haste.

a bit premature

Indicates that the action was taken before the optimal time, suggesting a lack of readiness.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather hasty" to describe decisions or actions that were made quickly and without enough consideration. For example, "It was a "rather hasty" decision, but we really needed to move things along."

What are some alternatives to "rather hasty"?

Alternatives to "rather hasty" include "somewhat rushed", "a bit impulsive", or "slightly ill-considered" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "rather hasty" formal or informal?

"Rather hasty" is generally considered neutral in formality. It's suitable for both journalistic and general writing contexts. However, in very formal or academic contexts, you might prefer "somewhat precipitate".

What does "rather" mean in the context of "rather hasty"?

In "rather hasty", "rather" functions as an adverb that modifies the adjective "hasty". It intensifies the meaning of "hasty", indicating a noticeable or considerable degree of haste. You can replace it with other similar adverbs such as "somewhat" or "slightly".