rather looking forward

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather looking forward" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a positive anticipation or eagerness about something in the future. Example: "I am rather looking forward to the upcoming conference and the opportunity to meet new colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In fact, I'm rather looking forward to it.

The New York Times - Travel

And again, this had little to do with looking into the past, but rather looking forward.

The New York Times - Sports

This year she will have to queue for a signature – something she's rather looking forward to.

The Guardian - Travel

One business that's on the up is pawnbroking, and I was rather looking forward to Cash Britain (BBC1).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

So I was rather looking forward to a bulletin from the frontline in Sofia, Deyan Enev's collection of short stories Circus Bulgaria.

The Guardian - Books

It isn't about leaving what's behind us, but rather, looking forward to what's ahead of us.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Now I rather look forward to them.

Independent

I rather looked forward to being tutored in his worldliness.

The Guardian

He would rather look forward, but all the retrospectives have him looking back, as well.

The New York Times

I rather look forward to publishers searching the back catalogues for individually publishable gems.

The Guardian - Books

She has not forgotten where she comes from, though understandably she would rather look forward.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather looking forward" to express a mild yet genuine anticipation, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It adds a touch of understated enthusiasm.

Common error

While "rather looking forward" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it excessively in close proximity within your writing. Overuse can make your text sound repetitive and lack variety. Instead, mix it up with alternatives like "eagerly awaiting" or "greatly anticipating" to keep your writing fresh and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather looking forward" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject expressing a state of anticipation. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a valid construction that communicates a positive expectation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Wiki

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather looking forward" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express anticipation, as affirmed by Ludwig. While not exceedingly common, it appears consistently across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media. The phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, conveying a neutral tone suitable for expressing genuine, albeit understated, enthusiasm. While usable, remember to avoid overuse and enrich your writing with alternatives like "eagerly awaiting" or "greatly anticipating". Ludwig's examples provide valuable insight into its practical application and reinforce its validity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite anticipating

Replaces "looking forward" with "anticipating" and modifies "rather" to "quite", indicating a similar level of enthusiasm with a more formal tone.

eagerly awaiting

Substitutes "looking forward" with "awaiting" and "rather" with "eagerly", conveying a stronger sense of eagerness.

greatly anticipating

Replaces "looking forward" with "anticipating" while intensifying the anticipation with "greatly" instead of "rather".

very much awaiting

Uses "awaiting" instead of "looking forward" and "very much" to express a high degree of anticipation.

keenly expecting

Replaces "looking forward" with "expecting" and uses "keenly" to denote strong interest and anticipation.

truly anticipating

Substitutes "looking forward" with "anticipating" and uses "truly" to emphasize the sincerity of the anticipation.

genuinely awaiting

Replaces "looking forward" with "awaiting" and uses "genuinely" to highlight the authentic feeling of anticipation.

sincerely anticipating

Replaces "looking forward" with "anticipating" and modifies "rather" with "sincerely", indicating a formal and heartfelt anticipation.

with anticipation

Uses a prepositional phrase to convey the feeling of looking forward. It is less direct and slightly more formal than the original.

anticipating with pleasure

Adds the element of pleasure, suggesting a joyful anticipation. It changes the focus slightly to the enjoyment of the anticipated event.

FAQs

How can I use "rather looking forward" in a sentence?

You can use "rather looking forward" to express a moderate level of positive anticipation. For example, "I am rather looking forward to the upcoming vacation", or "She is rather looking forward to the new project".

What can I say instead of "rather looking forward to"?

You can use alternatives like "quite anticipating", ""eagerly awaiting"", or ""greatly anticipating"" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I'm rather looking forward for" something?

No, the correct usage is "I'm rather looking forward to" something. The preposition "to" is required after "looking forward".

What's the difference between "looking forward to" and "rather looking forward to"?

"Looking forward to" expresses general anticipation. Adding "rather" implies a slightly stronger or more nuanced sense of anticipation. It's a subtle way to emphasize your interest without being overly enthusiastic.