has been infrequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been infrequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has not occurred often over a certain period of time. Example: "The occurrence of such events has been infrequent in recent years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Centuries of mutual dislike and distrust have clouded Vietnamese-Khmer relations, and intermarriage has been infrequent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It remains unclear whether that pledge has been fulfilled; his attendance in the Lords has been infrequent.

The Economist

It's a relief to say that so far this season, this kind of dullness has been infrequent.

The New York Times - Arts

While the commission routinely consults member countries on preliminary tariffs, in the past that has tended to be more of a formality, and opposition has been infrequent.

The New York Times

Low probability areas occur over dryer ecoregions, where yellow fever presence has been infrequent.

UNICEF

But the rain has been infrequent, with little impact on play — until Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

But the rocket launches since then have been infrequent.

The Washington Post

But allegations of corruption at competitions have been infrequent.

The New York Times

She lived in N.Y. and since her mother's death her visits had been infrequent.

The New Yorker

Since her visits to the United States have been infrequent, Americans know her better on records than in concert.

The New York Times - Arts

"You have to be ready to take a hit if it's not what you think it is," she said, adding that for her, disappointments had been infrequent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been infrequent" to describe trends, events, or actions that occur less often than expected or previously observed. Ensure your sentence clearly specifies the period or context in which the infrequency is noted.

Common error

Avoid using "has been infrequent" without defining the timeframe or subject. For instance, instead of saying "reports have been infrequent", specify "reports of side effects have been infrequent this quarter" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been infrequent" functions as a descriptor, indicating that an event, occurrence, or action has occurred less often than expected or previously observed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

3%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been infrequent" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express that something occurs less often than expected or previously observed. Ludwig AI states that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase is versatile and appears in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias, though it's most prevalent in news and scientific reporting. While direct synonyms like ""has been rare"" or ""has been uncommon"" exist, "has been infrequent" offers a slightly different nuance, focusing on the decreased frequency of an event. When using this phrase, ensure that the context and timeframe are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not been frequent

A direct negation of frequency.

has been rare

Emphasizes the scarcity of occurrence.

has been uncommon

Highlights that the occurrence is not typical or usual.

has happened rarely

Focuses on the action of 'happening' in a rare manner.

has been sporadic

Suggests irregular and occasional occurrences.

has been scarce

Implies a limited availability or occurrence.

has been a rarity

Transforms the idea into a state of being a 'rarity'.

has been intermittent

Indicates pauses and breaks in occurrence.

has been occasional

Describes instances happening from time to time.

has been few and far between

An idiomatic expression indicating infrequency and wide spacing.

FAQs

How can I use "has been infrequent" in a sentence?

You can use "has been infrequent" to describe something that doesn't happen often. For example, "Rainfall "has been infrequent" this summer".

What are some alternatives to saying "has been infrequent"?

Alternatives include "has been rare", "has been uncommon", or "has not been frequent", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "has been infrequent"?

Yes, "has been infrequent" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard present perfect construction of "has/have + been + adjective".

What's the difference between "has been infrequent" and "is infrequent"?

"Has been infrequent" implies that something used to happen more often but doesn't now, while "is infrequent" simply states that something doesn't happen often in the present.