rather slower than

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather slower than" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing the speed of two things. For example, "He walked rather slower than she did."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Cirques develop allometrically, with downward erosion rather slower than increases in length and width.

Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science

This defect propagation speed of ∼0.5 times the ripple speed is rather slower than suggested in idealized models.

Aeolian Research

They thought this pace was rather slower than what the Supreme Court meant by "all deliberate speed".

The New Yorker

The immediate motivation for writing the piece is that it would let me (and any other pianist who learns to play it) recite the first few hundred digits of π from memory -- albeit at a pace rather slower than is typical of such exhibitions.

Harvard University

Sammy thanked the Almighty and then berated Mark Nicholas (please do not get this pair confused) before going on to castigate his own board, which had been rather slower than anyone else in the Caribbean to send support and then congratulations for a stunning victory.

The Guardian - Sport

We found that monocytes started their target-oriented interstitial migration later than neutrophils and migrated rather slower than neutrophils.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

In this account of Beethoven's Seventh, for instance, although he takes rather slower speeds than usual, his care over the phrasing prevents the performance from losing tension.

The Guardian - Music

Of course, Mr Balls hopes his policies will increase economic growth and reduce borrowing faster rather than slower than the Tories.

BBC

I found it slow-burn rather than slow, full of life that felt true and a stellar cast who made the script sing.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Instead, the runners have to run all sessions at preferred pace (rather a little slower than too fast) (see Table 2).

Injury Epidemiology

In sugar mixtures with these nitrogen sources, E. coli still consumes glucose first, but grows faster rather than slower after exhausting glucose, generating a reversed diauxic shift.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather slower than" when you want to express a moderate degree of slowness in comparison to something else, implying it's noticeable but not dramatically different.

Common error

While "rather" is acceptable, overuse in formal writing can make your tone seem hesitant or uncertain. Opt for more direct comparatives like "slightly" or "moderately" to maintain clarity and confidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather slower than" functions as a comparative adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by indicating a degree of slowness relative to something else. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in comparing speeds of processes, actions, or developments. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

35%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather slower than" is a grammatically sound and useful comparative phrase that is used to indicate that something is moderately slower compared to something else. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and suitable for written English. While less common than other comparatives, it effectively conveys a sense of noticeable but not extreme slowness. As Ludwig examples illustrate, it appears across different categories of writing from science to news. When writing, it's crucial to choose the most precise language for your context and consider this phrase when you need to express a mid-range difference in speed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shade slower than

Indicates a very small difference in speed.

not quite as fast as

Simple and direct way of expressing that something is slower.

somewhat more slowly than

Emphasizes a slight difference in slowness, focusing on the 'how' rather than just the speed.

at a more reduced pace than

Highlights the reduction in speed.

slightly less rapidly than

Uses more formal language to indicate a marginal difference in speed.

a bit more sluggish compared to

Introduces a more negative connotation of slowness, implying a lack of energy or efficiency.

moderately behind in speed relative to

Highlights the positional aspect of speed, indicating one thing lags behind another to a noticeable extent.

noticeably more leisurely than

Suggests the slowness is intentional or characteristic.

less hasty in comparison to

Focuses on the lack of urgency rather than pure speed.

somewhat tardier than

Implies a delay or lateness, adding a temporal dimension to the slowness.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "rather slower than" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "comparatively slower than", "moderately slower than", or "perceptibly slower than".

Is there a subtle difference between "rather slower than" and "slightly slower than"?

"Rather slower than" suggests a somewhat more noticeable difference in speed compared to "slightly slower than", which indicates a minimal difference.

When should I use "rather slower than" instead of "slower than"?

Use "rather slower than" when you want to emphasize that the difference in speed is not insignificant, but also not extreme. It adds a degree of qualification to the comparison.

What are some alternative ways to express that something is not as fast as something else?

Instead of using "rather slower than", try phrases like "not quite as fast as", "less rapid than", or "at a reduced pace compared to".