which is rather

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which is rather" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a clause that provides additional information or clarification about a subject, often indicating a degree of something. Example: "The weather today is quite pleasant, which is rather surprising for this time of year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Which is rather a shame.

The Economist

Which is rather fabulous.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Which is rather bizarre.

The New York Times

Which is rather the problem.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Which is rather reassuring really.

The Guardian

Also, it's scented which is rather nice.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This has a firmness and consistency which is rather comfortable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But of course they don't, which is rather endearing.

The Guardian - Film

No throwing herself about the keyboard, which is rather popular these days.

The Guardian

"There's a lot in The Stranger's Child which is rather liminal," he says.

The Guardian - Books

All this promotes attention, and makes introspection difficult, which is rather the point.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which is rather" to introduce a clause that provides additional commentary or a mild surprise regarding the preceding statement. It works well when you want to express a subjective reaction without being overly assertive.

Common error

Avoid using "which is rather" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and detract from the impact of the phrase when it's genuinely needed. Try to use alternatives to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which is rather" functions as a relative clause introducing an additional comment, explanation, or expressing a mild surprise or subjective assessment regarding the preceding statement. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is widely used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which is rather" is a versatile relative clause used to introduce a comment, explanation, or express a mild surprise or subjective assessment. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its neutral tone makes it adaptable to various writing styles, although it tends to be more frequent in news and media contexts. While there are no specific grammatical errors associated with its use, overuse should be avoided. Alternatives like "which is somewhat" or "which is quite" can provide variety. It is commonly employed across diverse fields, particularly in news and media and scientific publications, as highlighted by Ludwig's examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which is somewhat

Expresses a slightly lesser degree or extent than "which is rather".

which is quite

Indicates a similar level of surprise or mild emphasis, but with a slightly different tone.

which is fairly

Suggests a slightly more neutral assessment, lacking the mild surprise or judgment of "which is rather".

that is somewhat

Replaces "which" with "that", creating a slightly more detached or formal tone.

that's a bit

More informal and direct, using a contraction and "bit" to soften the statement.

that is a little

Slightly more formal than "that's a bit", but still conveys a similar meaning.

this is somewhat

Changes the focus to "this", implying a more immediate or direct connection to the subject.

this is quite

Similar to "this is somewhat" but emphasizes a slightly stronger degree.

it's kind of

An informal alternative that expresses a subjective assessment or approximation.

it is relatively

More formal and objective, emphasizing a comparison to a standard or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "which is rather" in a sentence?

"Which is rather" is used to add a comment or observation about something previously mentioned. For example, "The task was more challenging than expected, which is rather surprising given its initial description."

What phrases are similar to "which is rather"?

You can use alternatives like "which is somewhat", "which is quite", or "which is fairly" depending on the context.

Is "which is rather" formal or informal?

"Which is rather" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although slightly leaning towards informal depending on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall writing style.

What's the difference between "which is rather" and "which is very"?

"Which is rather" implies a mild surprise or subjective judgment, while "which is very" simply emphasizes the degree of something. For example, "The movie was long, which is rather unusual for a comedy" suggests surprise, whereas "The movie was long, which is very common for epics" emphasizes its length.