to get rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to get rather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a degree of something, often indicating a moderate or somewhat significant level of a quality or state. Example: "I tend to get rather anxious before public speaking events."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

He's going to get rather wet.

The Guardian - Books

After four days, things start to get rather more serious.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The Vienna Phil tend to get rather less.

The Guardian - Music

Robson's starting to get rather used to the big stage.

The Guardian - Sport

Another problem is how to keep the tiles clean: roads tend to get rather dirty.

The Economist

Life may be about to get rather more austere for your average Athenian....

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"In a subsequent Villa programme article he admitted to getting rather nervous before big games and had been known to barf his pre-match meal, though never on the pitch before".

The Guardian - Sport

"Given the MoD's reluctance to admit they were even going to use these weapons, they now seem to be getting rather more trigger-happy," Harvey said yesterday.

The Guardian

Predictably, Joel Tomkins' return to Wigan got rather less media coverage than his original move to Saracens three years ago.

The Guardian - Sport

ITV's Englishman in New York (the title taken from the song that Sting dedicated to Crisp) got rather lost amidst the Christmas TV schedules, which is a pity.

Independent

And the problem is only going to get worse rather than better".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to get rather" when you want to express a moderate degree of a certain quality or state. It adds a nuanced tone, suggesting something is becoming noticeably but not extremely so. For instance, "The situation started to get rather complicated."

Common error

Avoid using "to get rather" in highly informal conversations or casual writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted in such settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to get a bit" or "to become quite" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to get rather" functions as a verb phrase, typically serving as part of the predicate in a sentence. It describes a process or change, indicating a moderate increase or progression towards a certain state. Ludwig AI indicates it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

20%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to get rather" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase to express a moderate degree of change or progression. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, especially news and media, while remaining relatively neutral in register. It's a useful way to add nuance to observations, as seen in the examples provided, but should be used judiciously in very casual settings. Consider using alternatives like "to become quite" or "to grow somewhat" for different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to become quite

Emphasizes the transition to a certain state, similar to "to get rather" but uses "become" instead of "get".

to grow somewhat

Indicates a gradual increase or development to a certain extent; replaces "get" with "grow" and "rather" with "somewhat".

to turn fairly

Implies a change in condition or state, using "turn" instead of "get" and "fairly" instead of "rather".

to seem somewhat

Suggests an appearance or impression of something, substituting "get" with "seem" and "rather" with "somewhat".

to feel quite

Focuses on a subjective sensation or emotion, replacing "get" with "feel" and "rather" with "quite".

to become relatively

Indicates a transformation to a comparative degree, using "become" instead of "get" and "relatively" instead of "rather".

to appear fairly

Suggests a degree of visibility or presentation, swapping "get" for "appear" and "rather" for "fairly".

to develop somewhat

Indicates a process of unfolding or evolving to a limited extent; replaces "get" with "develop" and "rather" with "somewhat".

to get a bit

Offers a less formal alternative, using "a bit" instead of "rather" to indicate a slight degree.

to become a little

Provides a more casual option, substituting "rather" with "a little" and "get" with "become".

FAQs

What does "to get rather" mean?

The phrase "to get rather" signifies a moderate degree or extent of something. It indicates that something is becoming noticeably but not excessively so. It's often used to express a change in state or condition.

When is it appropriate to use "to get rather" in writing?

It's suitable for formal writing, news articles, or situations where a slightly elevated tone is desired. It's less appropriate in casual or informal contexts where simpler alternatives might be preferred.

What are some alternatives to "to get rather"?

You can use alternatives like "to become quite", "to grow somewhat", or "to turn fairly" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "to get rather" and "to get very"?

"To get very" implies a stronger degree than "to get rather". "To get very" suggests something is becoming significantly or extremely so, whereas "to get rather" indicates a more moderate change.