have infrequently been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have infrequently been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or occurrences that happen rarely or not often over a period of time. Example: "These species have infrequently been observed in this region, making them a subject of interest for researchers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Such approaches have infrequently been described (27, 28).

Diabetes Care

However, mycobacteria have infrequently been the reported cause.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

SFSV have infrequently been implicated in central nervous system infections.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Further, outcomes beyond recurrence (such as quality of life) have infrequently been included in these studies.

British Journal of Cancer

Within-physician variation in prescribing decisions and the effect of physician preference have infrequently been studied.

BMJ Open

Some other Bartonella spp. have infrequently been isolated from domestic dogs.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Prior Council approval of military action had rarely been sought and had infrequently been granted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Closure is a key concept in the physical sciences that has infrequently been used in ecology.

Advances in Space Research

Hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis as a separate entity, however, has infrequently been studied [ 4, 7, 11, 12].

BMC Infectious Diseases

However, lamivudine has infrequently been reported as a cause of SJS, but there have not been similar reports with tenofovir.

F1000Research

Despite this, the impact of caregiving on health has infrequently been considered in health technology assessments (HTA) in the UK.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have infrequently been", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific area or situation where the infrequency applies. This helps to avoid ambiguity and makes the statement more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "have infrequently been" when the event has never occurred or is extremely rare. In such cases, use stronger terms like "have never been" or "are virtually nonexistent" to better reflect the actual situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have infrequently been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase followed by a past participle, indicating that an action or state has occurred but not often. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

84%

News & Media

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have infrequently been" is a grammatically sound construction used to denote the rare or uncommon occurrence of an event or action. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English. It finds its primary usage within scientific and academic contexts, as demonstrated by the numerous examples from sources like "Emerging Infectious Diseases" and "British Journal of Cancer". While not as common as alternatives like "have rarely been", the phrase serves as a precise way to communicate infrequency, and should be employed when that specific nuance is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have rarely been

This alternative uses "rarely" instead of "infrequently", indicating a low occurrence rate.

have seldom been

This alternative employs "seldom" in place of "infrequently", suggesting an infrequent occurrence.

have been rare

This alternative replaces "infrequently" with "rare", a direct synonym indicating scarcity.

have not often been

This phrase uses a more direct negation of "often", emphasizing the lack of frequency.

have been uncommon

This alternative shifts the structure to focus on the state of being uncommon.

have sporadically been

This alternative highlights that the occurrences happen irregularly.

have occurred infrequently

This alternative uses a different verb structure to convey the same infrequent occurrence.

have scarcely been

This option suggests a minimal presence or occurrence.

have occasionally been

This means something similar to "have infrequently been" but it implies the existence of a pattern.

have uniquely been

This implies that things are exclusive.

FAQs

How can I use "have infrequently been" in a sentence?

Use "have infrequently been" to describe actions or events that occur rarely. For example, "These side effects "have infrequently been" reported in clinical trials".

What are some alternatives to "have infrequently been"?

You can use alternatives like "have rarely been", "have seldom been", or "have not often been" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "have infrequently been" or "have rarely been"?

Both ""have infrequently been"" and "have rarely been" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality. "Rarely" might be slightly more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "have infrequently been" and "have occasionally been"?

"Have infrequently been" suggests a lack of frequency, while "have occasionally been" suggests that something happens sometimes, but not regularly. The key difference lies in the implication of a pattern, however sporadic, with 'occasionally'.