relatively fast

USAGE SUMMARY

"relatively fast" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to provide a comparison between two speeds, for example, "We achieved our goal relatively fast compared to other similar projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Service: Fast counter service, with tables cleared relatively fast.

The New York Times

Relatively fast, I suppose.

The New York Times - Books

It happened relatively fast.

The New York Times - Magazine

Spinosad is relatively fast acting.

Harvard University

"This was a relatively fast program".

The New York Times

It is also relatively fast, says Duerig.

MIT Technology Review

This approach enables relatively fast editing.

MIT Technology Review

So I developed a relatively fast and almost unattended braise.

The New York Times - Food

The Bengals were relatively fast in their second-level defense.

The New York Times

The proposed method is simple, robust, and relatively fast.

Computers & Graphics

The sensors permit a relatively fast conditioning time.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively fast" to provide a clear comparison when assessing speed. For instance, "The process was "relatively fast" compared to previous methods."

Common error

Avoid using "relatively fast" without a clear point of reference. Saying "The delivery was "relatively fast"" is less informative than "The delivery was "relatively fast" for an international shipment."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively fast" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the degree or extent of speed. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that something is quick in comparison to something else. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

37%

Academia

31%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relatively fast" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverbial phrase to indicate that something is quick in comparison to something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable and useful in written English. The phrase is versatile, appearing across diverse contexts such as news, science, and academia, and this is further reflected in a high source quality score. When using "relatively fast", ensure you provide a clear point of reference to avoid overgeneralization and to give context to your assessment of speed. Related phrases, such as "moderately quick" or "comparatively rapid", can offer more specific nuance when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moderately quick

Emphasizes a speed that is neither very fast nor very slow, highlighting the intermediate nature of the pace.

comparatively rapid

Indicates a faster pace when compared to something else, focusing on the comparison aspect.

reasonably speedy

Suggests an acceptable level of speed, implying it meets certain expectations or requirements.

fairly swift

Highlights the promptness of the action, indicating a quick and efficient pace.

somewhat accelerated

Focuses on the increase in speed, suggesting a noticeable pick-up in pace.

noticeably brisk

Implies a lively and energetic pace, emphasizing the perceptible quickness of the action.

relatively prompt

Highlights the timeliness of the action, suggesting a quick and efficient response.

passably quick

Suggests that the speed is adequate or satisfactory, though not necessarily exceptional.

approaching swiftly

Emphasizes the movement towards speed, indicating an action that is nearing a faster pace.

trending quickly

Implies that speed is increasing in the long term, and has a sense of the action's velocity being higher than before

FAQs

How can I use "relatively fast" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively fast" to compare the speed of something to a known standard or expectation. For example, "The new software update installed "relatively fast" compared to the old version."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "relatively fast"?

Alternatives include "moderately quick", "comparatively rapid", or "reasonably speedy" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "fairly fast" instead of "relatively fast"?

Yes, "fairly fast" is a suitable alternative to "relatively fast". Both phrases indicate a degree of speed that is above average, but not exceptionally quick.

What is the difference between "relatively fast" and "very fast"?

"Relatively fast" implies a comparison to something else, whereas "very fast" indicates a high degree of speed in general. For example, saying something is "very fast" suggests it's inherently quick, regardless of any comparison.