he seldom is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he seldom is" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone rarely exhibits a certain quality or behavior. Example: "In social situations, he seldom is the one to initiate conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Against Savon, the 29-year-old Bennett will be something he seldom is: the younger fighter -- by four years.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm speechless," he said, which he seldom is.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He seldom was.

The Economist

He seldom was able to throw a right hand after that.

The New York Times - Sports

It certainly helped that Carter cared deeply about what he was saying, that he was committed to it as he seldom was to the "content" of a speech.

The New Yorker

Yet even at the height of his fame, he seldom was away for very long from his family (he had six children) in New Orleans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Meanwhile, at an event raising funds for a children's hospital that will be named after Mr Mandela, his wife Graca Machel said that though he was sometimes uncomfortable he had seldom been in pain since arriving at hospital on 8 June.

Independent

He has seldom been challenged as forcefully as he was on Saturday — not by government but by a dogged organizer, Salvador Reza, a few clergy members and politicians and thousands of people who dared to say: Enough.

The New York Times

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is prone to goofs, but he's seldom been known to troll quite so hard as to say outright that he genuinely wants to do something in quite this way.

TechCrunch

To his credit, seldom is he terse with reporters, and never confrontational.

The New York Times

The Adventures may feature Tintin hard at work in his investigative journalism, but seldom is he seen actually turning in a story.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When choosing between "he seldom is" and alternatives, consider the context's formality. "Infrequently" or "rarely" might suit more formal settings.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "seldom" can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday conversation. In less formal contexts, consider using "rarely", "not often", or "hardly ever" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he seldom is" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the infrequency of a state or action related to the subject. Ludwig AI states the phrase is correct and usable. It specifies that a certain condition is not common for the person being described.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he seldom is" is a grammatically correct way to express that someone rarely exhibits a certain quality or behavior. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's worth noting that it carries a slightly formal tone and might be better replaced by alternatives like "he rarely is" or "he infrequently is" in more casual contexts. Most examples of its use appear in News & Media. Therefore, consider your audience and the level of formality appropriate for your writing when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he rarely is

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely", indicating a slightly less frequent occurrence.

he infrequently is

Substitutes "seldom" with "infrequently", offering a more formal alternative.

he hardly ever is

Uses "hardly ever" to convey a similar meaning of infrequent occurrence.

he scarcely is

Replaces "seldom" with "scarcely", implying a minimal or rare occurrence.

he almost never is

Expresses infrequency using "almost never", making the rarity more explicit.

he is not often

Rearranges the sentence structure to emphasize the lack of frequency.

he is uncommonly

Uses "uncommonly" to suggest that something is rare or unusual for him.

he is atypically

Indicates that a certain behavior is not typical for him.

he deviates from being

Suggests a departure from a usual state or characteristic.

he is not in the habit of being

Implies that a certain behavior is not part of his regular routine.

FAQs

How can I use "he seldom is" in a sentence?

You can use "he seldom is" to describe a rare occurrence of a state or action for a male subject. For example, "Against Savon, the 29-year-old Bennett will be something "he seldom is": the younger fighter."

What are some alternatives to "he seldom is"?

Alternatives include "he rarely is", "he infrequently is", or "he hardly ever is", depending on the level of formality and nuance you wish to convey.

Is "he seldom is" considered formal or informal?

"He seldom is" leans towards the formal side. In informal settings, "he rarely is" or "he is not often" might be better choices.

What's the difference between "he seldom is" and "he is seldom"?

"He seldom is" is less common but grammatically correct. "He is seldom" is more standard and widely used. Both convey a similar meaning, but the latter has a more natural flow in contemporary English.