Least frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Least frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs the least often in a given context or dataset. Example: "Among the various colors chosen by the participants, blue was the least frequent selection."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Very frequently, the classifiers tend to value predominant classes (cases) and ignore the least frequent classes [ 24].

BMC Genomics

were least frequent.

Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography

The least frequent mode was Listener, with 5 of the service providers referencing it the least often.

Journal of Aging Studies

The third possibility, he said, and one that is least frequent, is that people can develop an allergic respiratory disease.

The New York Times

Poisoning and burns were the least frequent.

Johns Hopkins University

"The hardest taps are done … mapped to the least frequent letters in the alphabet".

TechCrunch

Emotive mental processes were the least frequent mental processes in the discourse of the patients.

Functional Linguistics

On average, it is most frequent in Austria, followed by France, and least frequent in Sweden.

Comparative Migration Studies

The obstructive form (4 patients [12.9%]) was the least frequent form of IFT (Table 2).

Annals of Intensive Care

It only makes the least frequent transitions not optimized during the further stages.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

Verbal process is the least frequent process type at around 0.89 % (the clause grammar of saying).

Functional Linguistics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "least frequent", ensure you have a clear comparison group. For example, specify "least frequent among the options" to provide context.

Common error

Avoid using "least frequent" when a simpler word like "rare" or "uncommon" would suffice. Overusing complex phrases can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least frequent" functions as an adjective phrase, typically modifying a noun to indicate that it occurs with the lowest frequency compared to other items in a set. As shown in the examples from Ludwig, it's used across various scientific and general contexts to denote minimal occurrence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

83%

News & Media

10%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "least frequent" is a grammatically sound and widely used adjective phrase used to denote the lowest occurrence rate compared to others in a set. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to provide quantitative comparisons and highlight minimal occurrences. While versatile, it's essential to ensure clarity by specifying the comparison group and avoiding overuse in place of simpler alternatives. The related phrases, like "rarest" or "most uncommon", can offer nuanced variations for your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarest

Emphasizes the extreme scarcity of something.

most uncommon

Highlights the lack of commonality.

least common

Similar to "least frequent" but focuses on prevalence.

infrequent

A more concise adjective to describe something not happening often.

seldom seen

Highlights the rare visibility or appearance of something.

rarely occurring

Focuses on the low occurrence rate.

fewest instances

Emphasizes the minimal number of occurrences.

least often

Directly addresses the frequency of an event.

sparsely distributed

Describes a low density or scattered presence.

at a minimum

Suggests something happens at the lowest possible frequency.

FAQs

How can I use "least frequent" in a sentence?

You can use "least frequent" to describe something that occurs the fewest times compared to other things. For example, "Among the survey responses, 'undecided' was the least frequent answer".

What's the difference between "least frequent" and "least common"?

While similar, "least frequent" emphasizes the rate of occurrence, while "least common" highlights prevalence. You might say, "Nonfatal stroke was "least frequent"", implying it happened the fewest times, and "This side effect is "least common"", meaning few people experience it.

What are some alternatives to "least frequent"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "rarest", "most uncommon", or "infrequent".

Is it always appropriate to use "least frequent" in formal writing?

Yes, "least frequent" is appropriate for formal writing. However, ensure it fits the tone and complexity of your piece. In some cases, a simpler term might be more effective.