as seldom as

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as seldom as" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something happens infrequently or rarely, often in comparison to another event or situation. Example: "He visits his hometown as seldom as he can, preferring to stay in the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

As seldom as possible — especially when markets are falling.

The New York Times

The idea is to use cellular resources as seldom as possible.

Computer Networks

The inventors hope as seldom as once a month will do the job.

The New York Times - Health

Depending on the stage of aging, the cheeses are flipped as often as once a day; as seldom as every four or five days.

The New York Times - Food

So, America, amid this cultural bloodbath, it should come as no surprise to you that we are killing each other. . . about as seldom as we ever have.

The Washington Post

"I was brought up to believe Yiddish was an inferior language because my father's relatives got invited to the house as seldom as possible," he said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

England were seldom as composed as this.

The Guardian - Sport

The solution is seldom as simple as adding insulation.

The New York Times

TEXANS always welcome the wild flowers, but seldom as much as this spring.

The Economist

Selling overproduction through an exchange is seldom as cost-effective as properly planning production.

The New York Times

The chronological age was seldom as much as 2 years in doubt and probably more frequently overestimated than underestimated.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formal or scientific writing, consider using more precise terms like "infrequently" or "rarely" to enhance clarity and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "as seldom as" excessively in casual conversations. Simpler expressions like "rarely" or "not often" may sound more natural and less stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as seldom as" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the infrequency of an action or event. It's used to specify how often something occurs, implying it happens only on rare occasions. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as seldom as" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express infrequency. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. While understood across various contexts, it is most frequently found in News & Media and Science. For formal writing, synonyms like "infrequently" or "rarely" may provide greater precision. When aiming for casual conversations, phrases like "not often" might sound more natural. Overall, "as seldom as" serves to emphasize that something happens only occasionally.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as infrequently as

Replaces "seldom" with its direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

as rarely as

Another synonymous substitution for "seldom", offering a slight variation in tone.

not as often as

Uses a negative construction to express the infrequency, changing the sentence structure.

less frequently than

Emphasizes the comparative aspect of frequency, using "less" instead of "seldom".

as occasionally as

Replaces "seldom" with "occasionally", implying a slightly higher frequency than "seldom".

as uncommonly as

Substitutes "seldom" with "uncommonly", which is a more formal synonym.

hardly ever as

Uses "hardly ever" to convey infrequency, significantly altering the original phrase.

almost never as

Employs "almost never" for emphasis, providing a stronger sense of rarity.

once in a blue moon as

An idiomatic expression indicating very rare occurrences, differing significantly in style.

on rare occasions as

Highlights the infrequency by focusing on specific rare instances.

FAQs

How can I use "as seldom as" in a sentence?

You can use "as seldom as" to indicate that something occurs infrequently. For example, "He visits the dentist "as seldom as" possible because he dislikes dental procedures."

What are some alternatives to using "as seldom as"?

You can use alternatives such as "as infrequently as", "as rarely as", or "not as often as" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "as seldom as" and "as rarely as"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "as rarely as" might be perceived as slightly more emphatic than ""as seldom as"". The choice often depends on personal preference and the desired tone.

When is it appropriate to use "as seldom as" in writing?

"As seldom as" is appropriate in formal and semi-formal writing when you want to emphasize the infrequency of an event or action. However, in very casual contexts, simpler terms may be more suitable.