although very rarely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "although very rarely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a contrasting idea to whatever has been stated in the preceding sentence. For example, "The store usually carries the item, although very rarely there may be an instance in which it is out of stock."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

There are no external hind limbs in normal modern cetaceans, although, very rarely, an anomalous individual with such limbs is born (Fig. 24).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Some decisions overstepped the law, although very rarely.

BMC Palliative Care

The isolation of C. aurimucosum from other human clinical sources has been reported, although very rarely.

BMC Genomics

Although very rarely, bowel sub-obstruction secondary to high fibres dietary intake have been reported in elderly patients [ 55].

BMC Gastroenterology

The importance of human resources in the organization of care was highlighted in previous research, although very rarely in the rehabilitation field, to our knowledge.

BMC Health Services Research

Mitomycin C has been used in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies for over 30 years, and has been shown to be relatively safe and effective (Chester et al, 2000), although very rarely patients may develop the haemolytic uraemic syndrome, usually at very high doses (Catalano et al, 2002; Gundappa et al, 2002).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Although it very rarely happens in cricket at moments like this, it might very well turn out to be the very best thing for Australia.

BBC

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare disorder typically involving the upper respiratory tract, although it may very rarely affect the lower respiratory tract.

Surgical Case Reports

Although he was "very rarely pleased" with how their previous albums turned out, he thought that The Joshua Tree was their most complete record since their first.

Wikipedia

Metastases and lymphoma are the two most common splenic malignancies, and although both are very rarely seen in the setting of an incidental finding.

Cancer Imaging

Although it happens very rarely, ATM machines sometimes swallow cards when you try to obtain some cash from your account.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "although very rarely", ensure the contrasting idea is genuinely exceptional or infrequent to maintain the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "although very rarely" when the event is merely uncommon, as it can dilute the phrase's meaning and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "although very rarely" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a concession. It modifies the main clause by indicating that what is being stated is true despite the infrequency of a contrasting event or situation, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "although very rarely" is a grammatically sound and usable construction in English that serves to introduce a concession or exception to a general statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability. It appears most frequently in scientific and news media contexts, indicating a neutral register. While not exceedingly common, its use adds precision by acknowledging infrequent occurrences. Related alternatives include "though scarcely ever" and "while seldom". When employing this phrase, ensure that the infrequency is accurately represented to maintain credibility. As with any construction, overusing this phrase can diminish its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though scarcely ever

Emphasizes the scarcity of the event with a slightly more formal tone.

while seldom

A more concise way of expressing infrequent occurrence.

while uncommonly

A simpler, more direct substitution, maintaining a similar meaning.

even if hardly ever

Highlights a condition that is almost never met.

though exceptionally uncommon

Stresses the exceptional rarity using slightly different wording.

even though unusually seldom

Adds emphasis to the infrequency and unusual nature of the event.

albeit on rare occasions

More formal, emphasizes the exceptional nature of the occasions.

in the rare event that

Shifts the focus to the exceptional nature of the event.

notwithstanding its infrequency

Highlights that despite the low frequency, something still occurs.

despite its infrequent appearance

Focuses on the rare visibility or occurrence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "although very rarely" in a sentence?

Use "although very rarely" to introduce a contrasting idea that occurs infrequently, like "The software is stable, "although very rarely" it might crash".

What are some alternatives to "although very rarely"?

You can use alternatives like "though scarcely ever", "while seldom", or "in the rare event that".

Is "although very rarely" formal or informal?

"Although very rarely" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but more formal alternatives exist for strictly academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "although rarely" and "although very rarely"?

"Although very rarely" emphasizes the infrequency more strongly than "although rarely", suggesting the event is exceedingly uncommon.