I seldom cook

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I seldom cook" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how infrequently you personally engage in cooking for yourself or others. For example: "I rarely have time to cook, so I can say with confidence that I seldom cook."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I mostly confined myself to my room, so as to avoid her, and I seldom cooked.

The New Yorker

We seldom cook with fennel in the United States, although the plant is often used in cuisines of the Mediterranean region, where it grows abundantly.

The New York Times

We so seldom cook together, let alone eat together these days.

Huffington Post

Because men seldom cook, they are dependent on their wives for getting the new diet.

BMC Women's Health

As well as that, try a big variety of foods to cook because "masterchef" gives some challenges that people seldom cook in their life.

WikiHow

He seldom cooks, buys his suits off-the-peg from TM Lewin, and when I ask if it's true he once played in a punk band called Squashed Psyche, he laughs – "Oh I wish it was!" – but admits that the first he heard of this fiction was when it appeared on Wikipedia.

The Guardian

In an e-mail message, the bride noted that while she seldom cooks, "We still find doing laundry together romantic".

The New York Times

Lee, a magazine editor who dines out often and seldom cooks but entertains regularly and plays host to frequent house guests, needed a home that could easily adapt to the pace of modern urban life.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I cook the way I cook".

The New Yorker

I cook; therefore, I am.

The New York Times

If I cook something else, I always have double work.

Critical Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I seldom cook" to emphasize the infrequency of cooking as a conscious choice or due to specific circumstances, rather than a general lack of ability.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom" in very casual conversations; it can sound overly formal or even pretentious. Opt for more common alternatives like "rarely" or "not often" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I seldom cook" functions as a statement of habit or frequency. It describes how often the speaker engages in the act of cooking. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and meaning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I seldom cook" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that cooking is an infrequent activity. While confirmed as correct and usable in written English by Ludwig AI, it's essential to consider the context and audience, as "seldom" may sound slightly formal in casual conversation. Alternatives like "I rarely cook" or "I don't often cook" might be more appropriate in informal settings. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media sources as well as in scientific articles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I rarely cook

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely", a synonym indicating infrequency, and is closely interchangeable.

I don't often cook

Uses a more common and straightforward way to express infrequent cooking.

I hardly ever cook

Emphasizes the infrequency of cooking with "hardly ever", indicating a slightly stronger sense of rareness.

I infrequently cook

Substitutes "seldom" with the more formal "infrequently", maintaining the meaning but altering the tone.

Cooking is not something I often do

Rephrases the sentence to focus on cooking as an activity not frequently performed.

I only cook occasionally

Uses "occasionally" to convey that cooking happens, but not regularly.

I do not cook very much

A simple and direct way of saying that the amount of cooking is limited.

My cooking is infrequent

Shifts the focus to the infrequency of the cooking itself, rather than the person's actions.

I am not much of a cook

Indicates a lack of skill or interest in cooking, implying infrequent engagement.

I am not one to cook often

Expresses a general disinclination towards cooking on a regular basis.

FAQs

What does "I seldom cook" mean?

The phrase "I seldom cook" means that you do not cook often, or that cooking is an infrequent activity for you. It is a more formal way of saying "I rarely cook".

What can I say instead of "I seldom cook"?

You can use alternatives like "I rarely cook", "I don't often cook", or "I hardly ever cook" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I seldom cooked"?

Yes, "I seldom cooked" is grammatically correct. It implies that in the past, cooking was an infrequent activity for you, but it does not necessarily reflect your current cooking habits.

What's the difference between "I seldom cook" and "I never cook"?

"I seldom cook" implies that you cook occasionally, but not often. "I never cook" means that you do not cook at all.