I seldom see

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "I seldom see" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is not a regular occurrence. For example, "I seldom see my cousins since they moved away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

I seldom see families swimming together.

Independent

Nobody calls me Loyd anymore, except for Hinkley, Dick, Pajamas, and a few other high-school classmates I seldom see.

The New Yorker

I seldom see black faces in the audience at mainstream comedy; here, there were few white faces.

The Guardian

In a typical week I seldom see more than two other anglers on Salmon Stream Lake and most of the time I have the fishing to myself.

The New York Times - Sports

But when push comes to shove, I seldom see foolishness truly celebrated, or embraced as an ingredient for creating great products, services or experiences.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

But I seldom saw him smile.

The New York Times - Arts

As for the justice of her opinions, I had no way to judge; I seldom saw the movies she wrote about.

The New York Times - Books

I seldom saw his prickly side, which could be sharp indeed, but mostly benefited from his astute musical insights, immense culture and generosity.

The New York Times - Arts

When I grew older, my father and Hope moved to Hawaii and I seldom saw him, aside from very occasional visits to Hawaii and one visit he and Hope made to London.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So much knowledge did I have to impart to various interested ladies on this subject, I hardly had time to exchange a sentence with my mother's old friends, whom I seldom saw enough of, or with an unexpected and new friend of my own — a woman my age who had left a career as a lawyer to raise her kids.

The New Yorker

"They explored class tensions with an honesty I seldom saw in books by their southern contemporaries, who didn't understand how important it was not to go down the pit, or what the difference was between the lounge and the public bar.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I seldom see" to express that something is not a regular occurrence, indicating it happens less often than occasionally.

Common error

Avoid using "I seldom see" when you mean 'I never see'. "Seldom" implies it happens, just not frequently, while 'never' indicates it doesn't happen at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I seldom see" functions as a statement of observation, indicating the speaker's infrequent sighting or experience of something. It introduces a subjective perspective on the frequency of an event, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I seldom see" is a grammatically sound construction used to express infrequent observation or experience. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While not as common as other expressions of frequency, it effectively conveys the idea of something not being a regular occurrence. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, "I seldom see" offers a neutral register suitable for various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I rarely observe

Replaces 'seldom see' with 'rarely observe', maintaining the meaning of infrequent observation with a slight shift in formality.

I infrequently notice

Substitutes 'seldom see' with 'infrequently notice', focusing on the lack of regular awareness.

I don't often encounter

Replaces 'seldom see' with a more general phrase 'don't often encounter', broadening the context beyond visual perception.

I only occasionally spot

Uses 'occasionally spot' instead of 'seldom see', suggesting a chance or irregular visual sighting.

It's uncommon for me to see

Changes the structure to emphasize the uncommonness of the observation from the speaker's perspective.

I hardly ever witness

Employs 'hardly ever witness' to convey the scarcity of witnessing something, adding a layer of personal experience.

I scarcely perceive

Replaces 'seldom see' with 'scarcely perceive', indicating a minimal or almost nonexistent level of sensory awareness.

I'm not in the habit of seeing

Shifts the focus to a lack of habit or routine in seeing something, implying infrequent exposure.

My sightings are few and far between

Expresses infrequent sightings in a figurative way, emphasizing the distance between observations.

I see it very little

A simpler, more direct way of saying that something is not seen often.

FAQs

What does "I seldom see" mean?

The phrase "I seldom see" means that you rarely or infrequently observe something. It indicates that the event or object is not commonly within your view or experience.

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

You can use alternatives like "I rarely observe", "I infrequently notice", or "I don't often encounter" depending on the context.

Is "I seldom see" formal or informal?

"I seldom see" is generally considered a neutral expression, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "I rarely observe" might be perceived as slightly more formal.

How do I use "I seldom see" in a sentence?

You can use "I seldom see" followed by the object or event you are referring to. For example, "I seldom see families swimming together" or "I seldom see black faces in the audience at mainstream comedy".