a rare instance of

USAGE SUMMARY

'a rare instance of' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that only occurs every now and then. For example: The victory was a rare instance of success for the team that had been struggling for several months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was a rare instance of restraint.

The New York Times

It's a rare instance of self-awareness.

The Guardian

Or was it a rare instance of generalized organ failure?

The Guardian - Opinion

But that was a rare instance of good public relations.

The New Yorker

Stephen Dean's video "Pulse" provides a rare instance of extravagant color.

The New York Times - Arts

The building also represents a rare instance of architecture prevailing over the reflex impulse to preserve.

The New York Times - Arts

Reverend Billy, though, is a rare instance of applying the practice powerfully in the information age.

The New York Times - Arts

Fights are common on the subway, but the video captured a rare instance of deadly violence.

The New York Times

It was a rare instance of rebel fighters bringing down either Russian or Syrian aircraft.

The Washington Post

The bloggers are up in arms, providing a rare instance of unity between left and right.

The Guardian

It was a rare instance of a gun rampage in China, where few civilians own firearms.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a rare instance of", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is considered typical or common, so the rarity is understood.

Common error

Avoid using "a rare instance of" when describing events that are only slightly unusual. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound exaggerated. Reserve it for truly exceptional or infrequent occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rare instance of" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific situation as uncommon. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in describing events, behaviors, or characteristics that are not typical.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Arts

10%

Sports

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rare instance of" is a versatile phrase used to underscore the infrequency of an event, observation or occurrence. According to Ludwig, it is considered grammatically correct and is very common across various sources, but predominantly in "News & Media". The phrase is adaptable for different contexts, even though it tends to be featured in more neutral to formal registers. When deploying "a rare instance of" in your writing, make certain that what you are portraying is genuinely uncommon to avoid diluting the intended impact. Alternatives like "an infrequent occurrence of" or "an uncommon example of" can be used for variety, depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an infrequent occurrence of

Replaces "instance" with "occurrence" and "rare" with "infrequent", slightly altering the emphasis on the unusual nature of the event.

an uncommon example of

Substitutes "instance" with "example" and "rare" with "uncommon", making it slightly less formal.

an exceptional case of

Replaces "rare" with "exceptional" and "instance" with "case", highlighting the distinctiveness of the situation.

a singular demonstration of

Uses "singular" instead of "rare" and "demonstration" instead of "instance", emphasizing the unique nature of the event.

an isolated incident of

Replaces "rare" with "isolated" and "instance" with "incident", suggesting the event is not likely to be repeated.

an atypical manifestation of

Substitutes "rare" with "atypical" and "instance" with "manifestation", indicating something that deviates from the norm.

an odd occurrence of

Uses "odd" to describe the rarity of the occurrence, implying something unusual or strange.

a noteworthy example of

Replaces "rare" with "noteworthy", focusing on the significance of the example rather than its infrequency.

an unprecedented situation of

Substitutes "rare" with "unprecedented", suggesting that there is no prior example of this happening.

a freak incident of

Uses the term "freak" to emphasize the unusual and unexpected nature of the incident.

FAQs

How can I use "a rare instance of" in a sentence?

You can use "a rare instance of" to describe something that doesn't happen often, for example: "The team's victory was a rare instance of success this season."

What are some alternatives to "a rare instance of"?

You can use alternatives like "an infrequent occurrence of", "an uncommon example of", or "an exceptional case of" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it redundant to say "a very rare instance of"?

While grammatically correct, saying "a very rare instance of" might be redundant. The word "rare" already implies infrequency, so adding "very" may not significantly enhance the meaning. Consider using other alternatives if you want to emphasize the uniqueness further.

What's the difference between "a rare instance of" and "a specific instance of"?

"A rare instance of" highlights that something is unusual or uncommon. "A specific instance of", on the other hand, simply points out a particular example or case, without necessarily implying that it's rare.