happened infrequently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "happened infrequently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe events or occurrences that do not happen often. Example: "The power outages in our area happened infrequently, so we were not overly concerned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

In general, the report found that low-cost bus companies were a safe mode of travel and that accidents happened infrequently.

The New York Times

But it happened infrequently, for the closer one got to the border the emptier the land became, and the fewer people one encountered.

The New Yorker

This happened infrequently.

Crime Science

"Kodak moments," as they were called, happened infrequently.

Huffington Post

Inter-group contacts happened infrequently and episodically: although F63 was collared from 29th June (by which time all Valley study badgers had already been collared) until the 19th September, all of her inter-group interactions recorded occurred between 30th August and 18th September, with all three Valley females being contacted on the night of the 11th September alone.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Anderson said this happens "infrequently".

The New Yorker

"It used to happen infrequently.

The New York Times - Sports

The Labour leader suggested that such unexpected visits would still happen infrequently.

The Guardian - Opinion

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet Anderson said this happens "infrequently".

The New Yorker

And though it happens infrequently, he's also capable of delivering bald, untrusting explanations of his protagonist's trajectory.

The New York Times - Books

Arbitraging corporate domiciles happens infrequently because it's usually intended to deliver more benefits to managers than to owners.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "happened infrequently" when you want to emphasize that an event or situation does not occur often, but you still want to acknowledge that it does occur at least some of the time. This is more nuanced than simply stating something "never happens."

Common error

Avoid using "happened infrequently" when you mean that something has never occurred. "Infrequently" implies that there have been some occurrences, just not many. Use "never happened" if there have been zero instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "happened infrequently" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the rarity or infrequency of an event. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, aligning with examples where it modifies verbs to describe how often something occurs.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "happened infrequently" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as validated by Ludwig AI. It's employed to describe events that occur rarely, though not never. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and general discourse. While examples are not abundant, the phrase is understood and appropriate when conveying that something is uncommon. When choosing an alternative, consider options like "occurred rarely" or "seldom happened" to emphasize the rarity or temporal aspect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occurred rarely

Emphasizes the rarity of the occurrence, focusing on the event itself.

seldom happened

Uses "seldom" to highlight the infrequency from a temporal perspective.

rarely occurred

Similar to "occurred rarely" but with a slightly different emphasis on the rarity.

happened sporadically

Suggests that the events happened at irregular intervals.

occurred on occasion

Indicates that the event happened sometimes, but not regularly.

happened scarcely

Focuses on the limited number of times the event took place.

happened atypically

Highlights that the event was not typical or normal.

occurred scantily

Emphasizes the insufficient or limited occurrence of the event.

happened thinly

Suggests that the events happened in a dispersed or sparse manner.

occurred uniquely

Indicates that the event was unique and therefore did not happen often.

FAQs

How can I use "happened infrequently" in a sentence?

You can use "happened infrequently" to describe events that are rare or uncommon. For example, "Power outages "happened infrequently" in the city after the infrastructure upgrades".

What are some alternatives to "happened infrequently"?

Some alternatives include "occurred rarely", "seldom happened", or "rarely occurred", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "happened infrequently" or "rarely happened"?

Both ""happened infrequently"" and "rarely happened" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific rhythm of the sentence.

What is the difference between "happened infrequently" and "happened frequently"?

"Happened infrequently" means that something does not occur often, while "happened frequently" means that something occurs often. They are antonyms.