hardly ever found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly ever found" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is rarely or infrequently encountered. Example: "In this remote area, rare species of plants are hardly ever found."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Another species hardly ever found in Britain was everywhere.

The Guardian

You hardly ever found a party any more where the host rented a dance floor from that company that rented terrific dance floors.

The New Yorker

By contrast, pesticide residues are hardly ever found in organic food, and only through accidental contamination with non-organic agriculture, because organic farmers aim for zero pesticide use.

The Guardian - Opinion

LONDON — In his 1981 novel "Midnight's Children," Salman Rushdie describes the Sundarbans, the mangrove forest that traces the southwestern edge of Bangladesh, as "so thick that history has hardly ever found the way in".

The New York Times

Today many members of the sept bear names like MacAuliffe which is usually found within Co Cork and hardly ever found outside of Munster.

Wikipedia

As expected, NFTs were hardly ever found in sham-injected pR5 mice and completely absent in non-transgenic controls.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

You hardly ever find a state refusing extradition for political offences any longer," he said.

The Guardian

"There's definitely a feeling that it would be better to nominate a conservative of long-standing conviction," said Ralph Reed, a movement conservative who hardly ever finds an electable politician crazy enough for his tastes.

The New York Times

Whatever their circumstances, they hardly ever find themselves without something to talk about — except when they become mired in the endless complexities of fathers and children, and then an emotion-laden silence can descend.

The New York Times - Books

Once you arrive you will hardly ever find yourself needing to put your hand in that all-too-tightened travel moneybelt: almost everything is included in the price from the moment you arrive at Ercan airport, including the services of an experienced English-speaking guide.

The Guardian - Travel

"Even at 50,000 years, you hardly ever find hemoglobin".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly ever found" to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of encountering something, adding a sense of surprise or uniqueness to the statement. It's particularly effective when contrasting with situations where something is commonly found.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly ever found" when describing something that is simply uncommon but not exceptionally rare. Overusing it can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly ever found" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or adjective, indicating the infrequency with which something is encountered. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appropriately describes something rarely seen or discovered.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly ever found" is a grammatically sound and meaningful way to describe something that is rarely encountered. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's versatile enough to be used in various contexts, but most commonly appears in news, scientific publications, and general media as shown in the examples provided by Ludwig. To ensure clarity, replace it with alternatives like "rarely discovered" or "infrequently located" to add nuance or avoid repetition. Be cautious of overstating rarity when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely discovered

Emphasizes the infrequency of the discovery of something.

infrequently located

Focuses on the low frequency with which something is located.

seldom detected

Highlights that something is not often detected or noticed.

almost never unearthed

Stresses the exceptional rarity of unearthing or finding something.

scarcely encountered

Indicates that encounters with something are very infrequent.

uncommonly found

Highlights the unusual nature of finding something.

hardly located

Focuses on the difficulty of finding something.

barely discovered

Indicates that something is discovered in minimal amounts or instances.

unlikely to be found

Expresses a low probability of finding something.

not often found

A straightforward alternative emphasizing lack of frequency.

FAQs

What does "hardly ever found" mean?

The phrase "hardly ever found" means something is rarely or infrequently discovered or encountered. It suggests a low probability of finding or locating something.

What are some alternatives to "hardly ever found"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely discovered", "infrequently located", or "seldom detected" depending on the context.

Is "hardly ever found" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly ever found" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English to describe something that is rarely encountered.

How can I use "hardly ever found" in a sentence?

Example: "Pesticide residues are "hardly ever found" in organic food, and only through accidental contamination with non-organic agriculture".