I hardly ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'I hardly ever' is correct and can be used in written English.
It's often used to express that you do something rarely, or almost never. For example, you could say "I hardly ever eat fast food".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I hardly ever haggle.

The New York Times

I hardly ever see you".

The New Yorker

I hardly ever left.

The Guardian - Books

I hardly ever do "Uptown Girl".

The New York Times - Magazine

I hardly ever saw the field.

The New York Times - Sports

These days, I hardly ever pick up.

The New York Times - Magazine

I hardly ever finished a round.

The New Yorker

I hardly ever read them".

The Guardian

I hardly ever see her".

The Guardian - Books

I hardly ever go backstage.

The Guardian - Music

I hardly ever go out.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the infrequency, you can follow "I hardly ever" with adverbs such as "really" or "absolutely" for added emphasis, though it is less common.

Common error

Avoid using double negatives with "I hardly ever". For example, saying "I hardly ever don't do it" is grammatically incorrect and confusing. Stick to a simple affirmative statement to convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I hardly ever" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb, indicating the frequency with which an action is performed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I hardly ever" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey that something happens infrequently. Ludwig's analysis confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While there are several alternatives, such as "I rarely do" or "I seldom do", the phrase remains a versatile and easily understood way to indicate rarity. It's important to avoid double negatives to maintain clarity in your writing. Given its consistent usage and clear meaning, "I hardly ever" is a reliable choice for expressing infrequent occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I rarely do

Emphasizes infrequency with a slightly more formal tone.

I almost never do

Replaces "hardly" with "almost never", providing a more direct synonym.

I barely ever do

Indicates a minimal or slight occurrence.

I seldom do

A more formal and less common way to express rarity.

I practically never do

Implies the action is close to never happening.

I scarcely ever do

Similar to "hardly ever" but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the rarity.

I don't often do

A more common and slightly less emphatic way of saying "hardly ever".

I infrequently do

More formal and explicitly states the lack of frequency.

It's rare that I do

Shifts the focus to the rarity of the event rather than the subject's action.

I only occasionally do

Suggests the action happens only from time to time.

FAQs

How can I use "I hardly ever" in a sentence?

Use "I hardly ever" to indicate that you rarely do something. For example, "I "I hardly ever" eat fast food" means you seldom consume fast food.

What's a more formal alternative to "I hardly ever"?

More formal alternatives include "I seldom do", "I rarely do", or "I infrequently do". For instance, instead of saying "I "I hardly ever" attend social events", you could say "I rarely attend social events".

Is "I hardly ever" the same as "I never ever"?

"I hardly ever" means something happens very infrequently, while "I never ever" is a more emphatic way of saying something never happens. "I "I hardly ever" watch TV" means you watch TV very rarely, but "I never ever watch TV" means you absolutely never watch TV.

What can I say instead of "I hardly ever"?

You can use alternatives like "I rarely do", "I seldom do", or "I almost never do" depending on the context.