highly uncommon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly uncommon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very rare or not frequently encountered. Example: "Finding a four-leaf clover is highly uncommon, making it a special find for those who come across one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

A highly uncommon name is something that current software technology may be able to pick up.

Independent

The ability to do their job is deemed to be highly uncommon, and must therefore be rewarded accordingly.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is highly uncommon for a charter revision committee appointed by a mayor to decline outright to bring his proposals to ballot.

The New York Times

It is highly uncommon for an incumbent African president to lose a hotly contested election and then simply retire quietly by the pool.

The New York Times

But it is highly uncommon for a family rivalry to boil over into politics, and that is just what has occurred in the race for the Congressional seat that is being vacated by Representative Vito J. Fossella of Staten Island.

The New York Times

However, this case is highly uncommon, particularly in developing countries.

Latin American Economic Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

A highly specific, initially uncommon impact (imposex) was quickly linked to one chemical TBT.

Environmental Health Perspectives

From a child's perspective, PVC is a highly uncomfortable and uncommon event, and has been shown to create high levels of experienced pain, distress, and anxiety [ 1– 3].

BMC Pediatrics

Another critical task is the detection of outbreaks that rise up on the order of several days to several weeks and are not part of the systematic patterns in disease counts; the causes are bioterrorism and uncommon highly pernicious diseases.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Since the MJV is a highly specialized and uncommon device, we also tried using the oxygen flush device attached to the AM for TTJV and compared this to the MJV in a lung model with variable UAR.

BioMed Research International

It has the following advantages: (1) it is suitable for the analysis of highly dimensional and uncommon data; (2) it can accept missing values and process noise of the information.

Disease Markers

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly uncommon" to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of something, rather than simply stating it is "uncommon". This adds a layer of significance to the observation.

Common error

While "highly uncommon" is effective for emphasis, overuse can diminish its impact. Vary your language by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain the emphasis you want.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly uncommon" functions as a modifier, specifically an adjective phrase. It serves to describe a noun by attributing to it the quality of being rare or infrequent. This aligns with Ludwig's examples, where the phrase consistently characterizes something as exceptional.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly uncommon" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for emphasizing the infrequency of something. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as an adjective phrase and appears across diverse sources, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. While versatile, its impact is strongest when used judiciously to avoid diminishing its emphasizing effect. Consider rephrasing if you find yourself using it too often in the same piece of writing to ensure your language remains impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly extraordinary

Replaces "uncommon" with a stronger synonym, emphasizing the exceptional nature.

very uncommon

Replaces "highly" with "very", making the phrase slightly less emphatic.

highly exceptional

Substitutes "uncommon" with "exceptional", highlighting rarity and deviation from the norm.

exceedingly uncommon

Emphasizes the infrequency with "exceedingly", increasing intensity.

highly rare

Uses "rare" instead of "uncommon", focusing on scarcity.

distinctly uncommon

Replaces "highly" with "distinctly" emphasizing something is clearly not common.

highly infrequent

Replaces "uncommon" with "infrequent", focusing on the lack of occurrence.

extraordinarily uncommon

Uses "extraordinarily" to further emphasize how infrequent something is.

far from common

Uses a negative construction to convey the lack of commonality.

scarcely encountered

Emphasizes the low probability of finding or experiencing something.

FAQs

How can I use "highly uncommon" in a sentence?

Use "highly uncommon" to describe something that is not frequently seen or experienced. For example, "It is "highly uncommon" to see snow in July".

What are some alternatives to "highly uncommon"?

You can use alternatives like "very rare", "extremely unusual", or "distinctly uncommon depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "highly uncommon" formal or informal?

"Highly uncommon" can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience. In highly formal or academic writing, you might opt for a more sophisticated synonym.

Is it redundant to say "highly uncommon" since "uncommon" already implies rarity?

While "uncommon" implies rarity, adding "highly" intensifies the degree of rareness. It emphasizes that something is not just uncommon, but exceptionally so.