a rare act

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rare act" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or behavior that is uncommon or infrequent. Example: "His willingness to help the community was a rare act that inspired others to follow suit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Politics

Business

Culture

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Sick!" was what the bloggers almost unanimously deemed it, in a rare act of messageboard unity.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ms. Estrella said no, a rare act of defiance by any food maker.

The New York Times

In a rare act of agreement, Mr. Romney expressed the same sentiment on Thursday afternoon.

The New York Times

Justice Scalia summarized his scathing dissent from the bench — a rare act that signals sharp disagreement.

The New York Times

A rare act for Israelis, forbidden by their government, it was a routine act for Mr. Boaz.

The New York Times

Congress, in a rare act, overrode the president's veto, but the trial bar has not forgotten the president's act.

The New York Times

Burwell was also instrumental in facilitating the budget deal, which passed in December in a rare act of bipartisan co-operation.

The Guardian

The businessman, Donald Watkins, said he was also prepared to build a new park for the Twins with private funds, a rare act in professional sports.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Her husband adds, "It's a really rare act so they didn't want it to disappear".

Los Angeles Times

He paid a price for this rare act of solidarity: when he tried to establish himself in the United States, where he moved in 1939, he made little headway, his slightly astringent tone failing to please audiences accustomed to the sweet tones of Heifetz and Kreisler.

The New Yorker

Robert Frutos' City Council victory Tuesday marks the first election since 1999 in which the rare act of an incumbent being unseated is a certainty.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "a rare act" when you want to highlight a specific instance that stands out due to its infrequency or exceptional qualities, helping to make your writing more vivid and impactful.

Common error

Avoid using "a rare act" in situations where the rarity is already implied or obvious. Overusing it can diminish its impact. Instead, reserve it for moments where the unexpectedness is truly noteworthy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rare act" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where the adjective "rare" modifies the noun "act". As Ludwig AI explains, this highlights the uncommon or infrequent nature of a particular action. It serves to emphasize the exceptional quality of the act being described.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rare act" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote an action that is uncommon or infrequent. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, underscoring its function as a noun phrase that emphasizes the exceptional nature of the act. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki and Formal & Business contexts, with a neutral formality level. When employing the phrase, it's best to highlight truly unexpected actions, avoiding overuse in predictable scenarios. The phrase offers a range of alternatives, such as "an infrequent occurrence" or "an exceptional instance", each subtly altering the emphasis of the statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an infrequent occurrence

Emphasizes the low frequency of the event.

an exceptional instance

Highlights the unusual and outstanding character of the event.

an uncommon deed

Focuses on the action itself as being out of the ordinary.

a noteworthy event

Suggests the event is significant and deserves attention.

a singular action

Implies the action is unique and unparalleled.

an isolated incident

Highlights the action as a one-time, non-recurring event.

an unprecedented move

Suggests the action has never happened before.

a departure from the norm

Indicates the action deviates from typical behavior or expectations.

an atypical event

Stresses the event is not representative of the usual pattern.

an extraordinary measure

Highlights the exceptional nature of the step taken.

FAQs

How can I use "a rare act" in a sentence?

You can use "a rare act" to describe an action that is not commonly seen or expected. For example, "The politician's willingness to compromise was "a rare act" of bipartisanship".

What can I say instead of "a rare act"?

You can use alternatives like "an infrequent occurrence", "an exceptional instance", or "an uncommon deed" depending on the context. For example, instead of "It was "a rare act" of kindness", you could say "It was an exceptional instance of kindness".

Which is correct, "a rare act" or "a rarely act"?

"A rare act" is correct because "rare" is an adjective describing the noun "act". "Rarely" is an adverb and would not be grammatically correct in this phrase.

What's the difference between "a rare act" and "an unusual event"?

While both describe something uncommon, "a rare act" specifically refers to an action, whereas "an unusual event" is a broader term that can encompass any occurrence, not just actions.