have seldom been

USAGE SUMMARY

"have seldom been" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate a situation that has rarely occurred. For example: "The two countries have seldom been in agreement on this issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

UNIVERSITIES have seldom been more miserable.

The Economist

I have seldom been among such delighted operagoers.

The New York Times - Arts

Raging Speedhorn and Sarah Brightman have seldom been so appealing.

The Guardian - Arts

Historically, cycling and style have seldom been bedfellows in Britain.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Our cross-country adventures have seldom been so smooth.

The New York Times - Arts

New ideas and new leadership have seldom been more urgently needed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Curiously, these studies have seldom been cited in the domain of education.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

To date freshwater aquatic ecosystems have seldom been considered in this process.

Biological Conservation

Nevertheless, pleiotropic effects of QTLs acting on multiple traits have seldom been investigated in domestic animals.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

But women's issues have seldom been far from the surface.

The New York Times

Furthermore, they have seldom been validated at the MSI/MSS background.

Cancer Management and Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have seldom been" to express that something has occurred only a few times, emphasizing its rarity without implying complete absence. This is particularly useful in formal writing when you want to indicate that something isn't a common occurrence.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "seldom". For instance, do not replace "have" with "had" unless the sentence refers to a past perfect situation. Similarly, ensure the auxiliary verb agrees with the subject; incorrect usage might confuse readers about the time frame or the subject of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have seldom been" functions as a present perfect construction indicating that an action or state has occurred infrequently up to the present moment. This construction allows speakers and writers to convey the rarity of an event based on their experience. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

47%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have seldom been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, predominantly appearing in News & Media and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something has occurred infrequently up to the present, conveying rarity. Alternatives like "have rarely been" and "have hardly ever been" offer similar nuances. When using "have seldom been", ensure correct tense usage and subject-verb agreement to maintain clarity and avoid common grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have rarely been

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely", maintaining the meaning of infrequent occurrence with a slight difference in emphasis.

have infrequently been

Substitutes "seldom" with "infrequently", denoting a less common occurrence.

have hardly ever been

Uses "hardly ever" to convey the idea of something happening almost never, providing a more emphatic tone.

have not often been

Employs a more direct and literal expression for infrequent occurrence.

have scarcely been

Replaces "seldom" with "scarcely", suggesting a minimal or almost nonexistent occurrence.

have uncommonly been

Uses "uncommonly" to indicate something that does not happen in a typical or usual way.

have atypically been

Replaces "seldom" with "atypically", emphasizing that something is not typical or representative.

have unusually been

Uses "unusually" to convey that the occurrence is not in accordance with what is usual or common.

have occasionally been

Suggests the event happens at irregular intervals, less rare than "seldom".

have intermittently been

Implies the event happens sporadically, with periods of absence between occurrences.

FAQs

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

Use "have seldom been" to indicate that something has rarely occurred. For example, "Opportunities like this "have seldom been" available to young graduates".

What are some alternatives to "have seldom been"?

You can use alternatives such as "have rarely been", "have infrequently been", or "have hardly ever been" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "have seldom been" and "have never been"?

"Have seldom been" implies that something has occurred, but very rarely, while "have never been" means that something has not occurred at all. The first suggests rarity; the second, absence.

When is it appropriate to use "have seldom been" instead of "have rarely been"?

Both ""have seldom been"" and "have rarely been" are interchangeable in most contexts. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey. "Seldom" might sound slightly more formal than "rarely".