all that often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "all that often" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express that something does not happen very often, for example: "New restaurants don't open up in this neighborhood all that often."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But not all that often.

The New York Times

"I don't check all that often".

The New Yorker

Not that friends visited all that often.

The New York Times

"This combination doesn't come along all that often".

The New York Times

Fortunately, that's not all that often (2 30).

The New York Times

The movie doesn't burst into song all that often.

The New York Times

She's not at home all that often these days, though.

The Guardian - Film

That doesn't happen in film all that often".

The Guardian - Film

Now, these "supereruptions" don't happen all that often — not once in recorded human history, in fact.

The New York Times

Mr. Angelich has not played all that often in New York.

The New York Times - Arts

We've not beaten South Africa or New Zealand all that often.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "all that often" to soften a negative statement or to express a mild degree of infrequency, rather than a complete absence. For instance, "I don't go to the movies all that often" sounds less absolute than "I never go to the movies."

Common error

In highly formal or academic writing, consider using more precise and sophisticated synonyms like "infrequently" or "rarely". Over-reliance on "all that often" can make your writing sound less polished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "all that often" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in written English to express the infrequency of an action or event, evident in many examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Wiki

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "all that often" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to indicate that something does not happen very frequently. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media sources and is considered to have a neutral register. For more formal contexts, synonyms like "infrequently" or "rarely" may be more appropriate. Be mindful of the potential for overuse in formal writing. Understanding these nuances will allow you to effectively integrate "all that often" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not very often

Emphasizes the lack of frequency in a direct and simple manner.

hardly ever

Emphasizes the rarity of an event or action, suggesting it almost never happens.

not so often

Similar to 'not very often', but can also imply a comparison to a previous frequency.

infrequently

A more formal adverb directly stating the lack of frequency.

rarely

Indicates that something happens only on rare occasions.

seldom

A somewhat archaic term for 'rarely', adding a touch of formality.

not frequently

A more literal and slightly more formal way to express the lack of frequency.

on occasion

Suggests that something happens sometimes, but not regularly.

once in a while

Indicates that something occurs occasionally, but with significant gaps in between.

from time to time

Implies irregular occurrences, spread out over a period of time.

FAQs

How can I use "all that often" in a sentence?

You can use "all that often" to indicate that something does not occur frequently. For example, "I don't eat fast food "all that often" because it's not healthy."

What are some alternatives to saying "all that often"?

Alternatives include "not very often", "rarely", "seldom", or "infrequently". The best choice depends on the context and the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it more correct to say "not that often" or "all that often"?

"All that often" implies a degree of infrequency, while "not that often" simply negates frequency. Both are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. Use "all that often" when you want to soften the statement.

What's the difference between "occasionally" and "all that often"?

"Occasionally" implies something happens from time to time, whereas "all that often" suggests it doesn't happen frequently. "Occasionally" is a bit more affirmative that something does happen at a regular interval, while "all that often" is more about the absence of repetition.