I only rarely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I only rarely" is correct and usable in written English.
The phrase can be used to express that the speaker has an infrequent amount of participation in something. For example, "I only rarely go out to the movies on Sunday nights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

These days, I only rarely cry about Emma.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I may agree or disagree, but I only rarely write about it.

The New York Times

"To be honest I only rarely read a paper from beginning to end.

The Guardian

(Two of either would have been too much.) But I only rarely felt the poignancy of these longtime fellow travelers' interdependence.

The New York Times

And while I only rarely dig out my old video – I'm always surprised when it still works – when I do, I fall right back into it all over again.

Independent

You Can Still Change Company Behavior Without Sacrificing Diversification Or Performance I only rarely use a moral position to limit my investments.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

I've only rarely taken a picture of something I'm eating and posted it on Instagram, and my palate is well and truly jaded when it comes to cookery shows on television.

Independent

I've only rarely been a successful autodidact, not for lack of trying (I did teach myself etching many years ago).

Huffington Post

I have always been enraged on behalf of its targets, but during my time here I have only rarely been one.

Huffington Post

I have only rarely glimpsed him at his own festival.

The Guardian - Film

Well, in almost 20 years of doing animation, I have only rarely come across a studio of fulfilled artists.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I only rarely", ensure it's followed by a specific action or verb to give it context. This makes the sentence clearer and more informative. For instance, "I only rarely eat meat" provides a clear understanding of your dietary habits.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the infrequency with phrases like "I almost never only rarely do that". The word "rarely" already implies infrequency, so adding more qualifiers can make the sentence sound awkward or redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I only rarely" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency with which the speaker performs a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is used to express an infrequent amount of participation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I only rarely" is used to express the infrequency of an action or experience, and is considered grammatically correct by Ludwig AI. While it appears most frequently in News & Media sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. Alternatives such as "I seldom do that" or "I don't often do that" can be used for similar effect. Remember to use "I only rarely" with a specific action for clarity, and avoid redundant qualifiers. The phrase indicates that something does happen, but not frequently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I just rarely do that

Adds "just" for emphasis on the rareness of the action, without significantly altering the meaning.

I only occasionally do that

Substitutes "rarely" with "occasionally", suggesting that the action happens from time to time, but not often.

I seldom do that

Replaces "rarely" with "seldom", indicating infrequency but with a slightly more formal tone.

I very seldom do that

Emphasizes the infrequency using the adverb "very" to modify "seldom."

I infrequently do that

Uses "infrequently" instead of "rarely", providing a more formal and direct synonym.

I don't often do that

Expresses infrequency using a negative construction with "often", which is a common alternative.

I hardly ever do that

Emphasizes the rarity of the action using "hardly ever", suggesting it almost never happens.

I scarcely ever do that

Similar to "hardly ever", but with a slightly more literary or formal connotation.

It's uncommon for me to do that

Shifts the focus to the uncommon nature of the action rather than the speaker's frequency.

I do that only in exceptional circumstances

Explains that the action is limited to special cases.

FAQs

How can I use "I only rarely" in a sentence?

Use "I only rarely" to describe actions or experiences that you do not often do. For example, "I only rarely go to concerts" means you attend concerts infrequently.

What can I say instead of "I only rarely"?

You can use alternatives like "I seldom do that", "I infrequently do that", or "I don't often do that" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "I only rarely" or "I rarely only"?

"I only rarely" is the standard and more commonly used phrasing. "I rarely only" is less conventional and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "I only rarely" and "I occasionally"?

"I only rarely" suggests something happens infrequently, while "I occasionally" ("I occasionally") implies it happens from time to time. "Rarely" suggests a lower frequency than "occasionally".