rather higher

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather higher" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a degree of elevation or increase that is somewhat significant but not excessively so. Example: "The temperature today is rather higher than it was yesterday, suggesting a warm front is moving in."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The real price is proving rather higher.

The Economist

Or rather, higher frequency tasks.

The New York Times - Science

But Ivory feels it is time to aim rather higher.

The Guardian - Sport

Don't be surprised if he returns next year – and rather higher up the list.

The Guardian

VS Naipaul he rates rather higher, comparing himself with Tolstoy and Ibsen.

The Guardian - Opinion

His fellow Twitter fan, Stephen Fry, is rather higher, in 45th place.

The Guardian

I had rather higher hopes for Bear Grylls Fine Dining Discoveryery).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Italy's deficit came in at 3.0%, rather higher than Mario Monti's most recent forecast of 2.6%.

The Guardian - Business

Labour-force participation rates among Latinos are now 68%, rather higher than the 66.9% national average.

The Economist

On the contrary, they showed that Mr Simon had paid a rather higher share of tax than many rich people.

The Economist

Then, the overall proportion of Muslims who expressed some degree of sympathy was actually rather higher, at 28 per cent.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather higher" when you want to indicate that something is more than just slightly higher, but not dramatically so. It adds a nuanced degree of emphasis.

Common error

While "rather higher" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it, especially in very formal or academic writing. Consider stronger or more precise alternatives if the context demands a more impactful expression. For example, use "significantly higher" or "substantially greater" if the difference is more pronounced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather higher" primarily functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective. It indicates that something is elevated or increased to a noticeable, yet not extreme, degree. Ludwig's examples demonstrate this in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather higher" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that functions to indicate a degree of elevation that is noticeable but not extreme. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and serves to provide a nuanced description. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase carries a neutral to professional tone. To avoid overuse, consider alternatives like "somewhat elevated" or "slightly increased" for subtle variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat elevated

Replaces "higher" with "elevated", adding a touch of formality while retaining the sense of 'somewhat'.

slightly increased

Focuses on the action of increasing and uses "slightly" to convey a similar degree.

moderately greater

Replaces "higher" with "greater" and "rather" with "moderately", maintaining a similar level of intensity.

reasonably high

Emphasizes the 'high' quality while indicating it's within reasonable limits.

noticeably superior

Highlights a clear difference in quality, indicating something is better than average to a certain degree.

comparatively elevated

Indicates a level is higher when compared to something else.

relatively significant

Emphasizes significance rather than just a level increase, implying impact.

markedly improved

Focuses on the improvement aspect and implies a distinct enhancement.

appreciably larger

Implies an increase in size that is noticeable and worth mentioning.

measurably advanced

Highlights progress and that the change is quantifiable.

FAQs

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

"Rather higher" is used to describe something that is somewhat, but not excessively, above a certain level. For example, "The cost was "rather higher" than we anticipated" or "The demand is "rather higher" this year".

What are some alternatives to "rather higher"?

Some alternatives include "somewhat elevated", "slightly increased", or "moderately greater", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to use "rather higher"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Rather" functions as an adverb modifying the adjective "higher", indicating a degree of elevation.

In what contexts is "rather higher" most appropriate?

The phrase is suitable for various contexts, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples, including news reporting, scientific writing, and general descriptive text. It fits well when you need a moderately formal way to express that something exceeds a certain level.