rather untidy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather untidy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat messy or disorganized, often in a subjective manner. Example: "The room was rather untidy, with clothes strewn across the floor and books piled on the desk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

L. continued to play in tournaments all over Europe, living a rather untidy life.

The New Yorker

It's all rather untidy, but that gives me a sense of security.

The Guardian - Books

1900: Manchester United are back out and Rio Ferdinand has taken his place in defence despite limping off after that rather untidy challenge on Miralem Sulejmani at the end of the first half.

BBC

He was unkempt, rather untidy.

The New Yorker

The bungalow looked in reasonably good condition, although the garden was rather untidy.

The Guardian

"There were two rather untidy jumps near the end, but that little extra he had at the end was enough to get him in front".

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Alan was a good-looking boy, dreamy, rather clumsy, hopelessly untidy, and not very popular with his classmates.

The New Yorker

Three days later, an untidy, rather fortunate equaliser was required at Ibrox to force a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay with Partick from the First Division.

The Guardian - Sport

It's untidy rather than malicious but Chadli is booked for the foul.

BBC

My main cavil, aside from Rita's endless quick-changes, is that Ellen Cairns's mountainous set makes it look as if Frank inhabits a college library rather than a bookishly untidy den.

The Guardian

Models such as this highlight the way in which policy-making can be seen as a most untidy process, rather than neatly going through a series of phases [ 53].

Health Research Policy and Systems

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a scene or character, use "rather untidy" to subtly convey a lack of meticulousness without being overly critical. It's a gentler way to point out disorder.

Common error

Avoid using "rather untidy" when the situation is significantly more chaotic or dirty. Opt for stronger terms like "extremely messy" or "filthy" if the level of disorder warrants it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather untidy" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a moderate degree of messiness or disorganization. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

25%

Sport

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather untidy" is a grammatically sound and usable adjective phrase that describes a moderate level of messiness or disorganization. Ludwig examples show it's commonly found in news, books, and sports contexts. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, providing a nuanced way to describe something that is not perfectly neat without being overly critical. When writing, consider the degree of untidiness you wish to convey and choose more descriptive terms if necessary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a bit messy

A more casual and common way to express a slight lack of tidiness.

somewhat disheveled

Indicates a slight lack of neatness, focusing more on appearance than general order.

slightly disorganized

Focuses on the lack of systematic arrangement rather than physical mess.

not particularly neat

A more formal way to express a lack of tidiness.

fairly cluttered

Emphasizes the presence of many items causing a lack of space and order.

quite disordered

Suggests a higher degree of disarray compared to "rather untidy".

a little haphazard

Highlights the lack of planning or forethought in the arrangement.

somewhat chaotic

Implies a lack of order bordering on confusion or unpredictability.

kind of scruffy

Suggests a rough or unkempt appearance.

a touch ramshackle

Implies a state of disrepair and general disorder.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather untidy" to describe a state of mild disarray. For example, "The room was "rather untidy", but it didn't bother me much."

What's a less formal way to say "rather untidy"?

Alternatives include "a bit messy" or "slightly disorganized", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What words are similar to "rather untidy"?

Similar words include "disheveled", "cluttered", or "disordered". The best choice depends on whether you're referring to appearance, the arrangement of items, or the overall state of things.

Is it better to say "rather untidy" or "very untidy"?

"Rather untidy" suggests a moderate level of disarray, while "very untidy" implies a greater degree of messiness. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation. If you want to soften the statement, use "rather untidy".