are not often

USAGE SUMMARY

"are not often" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something does not happen frequently or regularly. Example: "I do enjoy going to concerts, but unfortunately, they are not often in my budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

ECONOMISTS are not often mobbed by cameramen.

The Economist

Bonobos are not often kept in captivity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Accountants are not often regarded as headliners.

The New York Times

Those groups are not often on the same page.

The New York Times - Sports

State governorships are not often on foreign observers' radar.

The Guardian - Opinion

Closers are not often associated with dinosaurs, but Fuentes is.

The New York Times

Government departments are not often portrayed as underdogs.

The Guardian

ROMANIANS are not often thought of as combustible folk.

The Economist

And yet these underlying issues are not often articulated".

The New York Times

Gains like this are not often seen in education.

The New York Times

Felons are not often hired when they leave prison.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are not often", ensure the context clearly indicates the expected frequency. Be precise about what is happening, if the subject is not happening often.

Common error

Avoid using "are not often" when a stronger negative like "never" or "rarely" is more accurate. Be aware that the phrase does not provide a specific numerical measure, and might sound vague if more precision is required.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are not often" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the infrequency of an action or state. As shown by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used to express that something does not occur frequently.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are not often" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something is not frequent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. While similar phrases like "are rarely" or "are seldom" exist, "are not often" strikes a balance between formality and accessibility. When writing, ensure that its use accurately reflects the intended frequency and aligns with the overall tone of the piece.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are not commonly

Replaces "often" with "commonly", suggesting a lack of commonality.

are not frequently

Uses "frequently" instead of "often", conveying a similar sense of low frequency.

are rarely

Emphasizes the infrequency, suggesting it happens seldom.

are seldom

Similar to "rarely", indicating infrequent or uncommon occurrence.

are not usually

Indicates that something is atypical or not the norm.

do not often

Highlights the absence of frequent action.

are infrequently

A more formal way of saying "not often".

are uncommonly

Suggests that something is unusual or exceptional because it doesn't happen often.

are sporadically

Indicates that something occurs at irregular intervals.

are intermittently

Suggests occasional or periodic occurrence, but not frequently.

FAQs

How can I use "are not often" in a sentence?

Use "are not often" to express that something happens infrequently. For example, "Concerts "are not often" free." This indicates that free concerts are uncommon.

What is a good alternative to "are not often"?

Alternatives include "are rarely", "are seldom", or "are not usually". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "are not often" or "rarely are"?

"Are not often" is a more common and natural phrasing in most contexts. "Rarely are" is grammatically correct but can sound more formal or literary. The choice depends on the desired tone.

What is the difference between "are not often" and "are not always"?

"Are not often" indicates something happens infrequently, while "are not always" indicates something does not happen in every instance, but could still happen frequently. For example, "cars "are not often" pink" means you rarely see pink cars. "Cars "are not always" clean" means that cars are sometimes dirty, but the cleanness varies.