rather higher than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather higher than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a comparison where one thing is significantly greater in height or level than another. Example: "The mountain is rather higher than the surrounding hills, making it a prominent feature of the landscape."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

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

In real terms, defence spending is rather higher than it was under President Carter (see chart 5).

The Economist

Tanjong Barram bearing 85|, ten miles distant Barram is low, woody, and pretty well defined, the trees being rather higher than those mediately behind it.

Cornell University

Audiard's handgun shooting (1) and machinegun shootings (2), apparently in the space of 24 hours, would seem to register rather higher than the national average.

The Guardian - Film

1) The US trade deficit widened to $41.78bn in September, up from $38.7bn in August -- and rather higher than the $39bn pencilled in on Wall Street.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

However eIF4E level was rather significantly higher than in controls as seen in other diseases with hyper cellular proliferation.

Cell Communication and Signaling

Five of these prevalent expectations had rather high levels (more than 20%) of unmet positive expectations.

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Higher BP ND rather than higher V T allows more sensitive detection of changes in the receptor.

EJNMMI Research

"You'd rather get high than kiss," she said.

The New Yorker

This may be baby talk suited to high table rather than high chair, but baby talk it is.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather higher than", ensure the context clearly establishes the baseline for comparison to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what is being compared and why the difference is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "rather higher than" when the difference is minimal or insignificant. Using a stronger term might mislead your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather higher than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It is used to indicate that something is somewhat greater or elevated in comparison to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage through numerous examples across diverse domains.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

32%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather higher than" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative phrase. As Ludwig AI shows, it is most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating that one thing is moderately greater than another. While "rather higher than" is appropriate for a range of writing styles, it is essential to ensure that the context clearly defines the baseline for comparison to avoid ambiguity. When considering alternatives, phrases like "somewhat greater than" or "slightly above" can serve as suitable replacements, depending on the degree of difference you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably surpassing

Highlights a more significant exceeding of a certain level or amount.

somewhat greater than

Substitutes 'rather higher' with 'somewhat greater', focusing on the magnitude difference.

appreciably greater than

Uses 'appreciably' to indicate a significant difference.

noticeably more than

Emphasizes that the difference is noticeable.

moderately exceeding

Uses 'moderately exceeding' to convey a similar sense of being somewhat above a certain level.

somewhat elevated compared to

Rephrases using 'elevated' and 'compared to' for a more formal tone.

marginally surpassing

Indicates a slight exceeding of a certain level.

slightly above

Replaces the comparative structure with a simpler prepositional phrase.

relatively superior to

Replaces 'higher' with 'superior', indicating a comparative advantage.

a bit over

Uses a more informal expression to convey a slightly higher level.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather higher than" to compare two values or measurements, indicating that one is somewhat greater than the other. For example, "The cost was "rather higher than" we anticipated."

What are some alternatives to "rather higher than"?

Alternatives include "somewhat greater than", "slightly above", or "moderately exceeding", depending on the context and the degree of difference you want to convey.

Is "rather higher than" formal or informal?

"Rather higher than" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It is suitable for academic, professional, and news contexts but might be replaced by more informal alternatives in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "rather higher than" and "much higher than"?

"Rather higher than" indicates a moderate difference, while "much higher than" suggests a more significant or substantial difference. The choice depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to emphasize.