rather smoothly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather smoothly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or process that occurs with ease or without difficulty. Example: "The project progressed rather smoothly, with no major setbacks along the way."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The 2012 omnibus spending bill was actually proceeding rather smoothly.

The New York Times

The binding energies of medium-size clusters vary rather smoothly with N, but they are in general considerably lower than the binding energies of bulk matter.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Power authority officials had originally predicted that yesterday's meeting would go rather smoothly, just like most board meetings, which typically last an hour.

The New York Times

The IndyCar main event went rather smoothly, however, with just three yellow flags, one caused when Ryan Briscoe struck the rear of Ryan Hunter-Reay's car, causing a spinout on the hairpin Turn 3.

The New York Times - Sports

Plays rather smoothly and provides solid entertainment.

TechCrunch

Things seem to have been moving rather smoothly for the folks at online banking startup Simple.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The resultant movements are jerky, rather than smoothly gradated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Things went rather more smoothly for Bold Sir Brian, who continued his rise with a runaway success in a graduation chase at Sandown.

Independent

Mounsey accepted that lessons had been learned from the process and indicated that things should run rather more smoothly if the BHA found itself trying to do something similar in future.

The Guardian - Sport

4, we present some numerical examples, and we show that the difference between the effects of the two technologies becomes significant when technology changes intermittently rather than smoothly.

Journal of Economic Structures

Second, like other false conceptual frameworks from both folk theory and the history of science, it will be replaced by, rather than smoothly reduced or incorporated into, a future neuroscience.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or event, use "rather smoothly" to convey that it proceeded without significant problems or interruptions. It suggests a degree of ease and efficiency beyond mere adequacy, but less than exceptional performance.

Common error

Avoid using "rather smoothly" when the situation was truly exceptional or perfect. The phrase implies a level of ease that is above average but not flawless. Using it in situations that were entirely trouble-free diminishes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather smoothly" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates the manner in which an action is performed, suggesting a level of ease and lack of significant problems. Examples in Ludwig show it describing the progress of events or the operation of systems.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather smoothly" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase, according to Ludwig AI. It conveys that a process or action proceeds with a degree of ease and without significant difficulties. While versatile, it’s most frequently found in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts and maintains a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the level of smoothness aligns with the actual situation and consider alternatives like "quite seamlessly" if a higher degree of perfection needs to be emphasized. Avoid using it when a situation was truly exceptional or flawless, as "rather smoothly" implies a level of ease that is above average, but not perfect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately fluidly

Retains a similar sense of flow and ease, replacing "smoothly" with "fluidly".

quite seamlessly

Replaces "smoothly" with "seamlessly", emphasizing the lack of visible transition or interruption.

fairly effortlessly

Substitutes "smoothly" with "effortlessly", highlighting the ease and lack of strain involved.

relatively easily

Focuses on the ease of the process or action, using "easily" instead of "smoothly".

reasonably successfully

Emphasizes the successful outcome, highlighting that the achievement was reasonably attained.

comparatively well

Shifts the emphasis to the quality of the outcome, suggesting a positive result achieved without major issues.

noticeably without a hitch

Highlights the absence of problems or obstacles encountered during the progression.

remarkably efficiently

Highlights the efficiency of the process, emphasizing the minimal waste of time or resources.

somewhat swimmingly

An informal alternative implying things are progressing pleasantly and without difficulty.

pretty uneventfully

Emphasizes the lack of notable occurrences or problems during the process.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather smoothly" to describe a process or event that progressed without major issues. For example, "The meeting went "rather smoothly", and we reached an agreement quickly."

What are some alternatives to "rather smoothly"?

Alternatives include "quite seamlessly", "fairly effortlessly", or "relatively easily" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "rather smoothly" or "very smoothly"?

"Rather smoothly" implies a degree of ease above average but not exceptional, while "very smoothly" indicates a higher level of seamlessness. Choose based on the actual situation you're describing.

What does "rather" emphasize in the phrase "rather smoothly"?

The word "rather" adds a subtle qualification. It suggests that while the process was indeed smooth, there might have been minor imperfections or it might not have been exceptionally perfect, which distinguishes it from something described as simply '"smoothly"'.