if only rarely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if only rarely" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something happens infrequently or seldom. Example: "He visits his hometown, if only rarely, but he cherishes those moments." Alternative expressions include "though seldom" and "albeit infrequently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But they are motives nonetheless — for sexual transgressions, if only rarely sexual deviance.

The New York Times

Apparently, if only rarely, Hunter's supporters would bring her blank canvases with their family photos already affixed to them, and she would take it from there.

The New York Times - Travel

In this, too, Spielberg is in step with a nagging, if only rarely and reluctantly voiced, sentiment in the Jewish diaspora.

The Guardian - Film

Sometimes, if only rarely, a political author stays fresh over time, over a long time.

Huffington Post

But there are, if only rarely, men who would rather perish than work without any pleasure in their work.

Huffington Post

Because of healthcare worker reluctance to accept a vaccine known to cause fatal reactions, if only rarely, the government opted to extend this program to cover healthcare workers for this complication.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The result has been that many men who would never normally engage in unsafe sex do so when they are on crystal — and even if that happens only rarely, it greatly increases the potential spread of S.T.D.s like H.I.V. and aids and syphilis.

The New Yorker

The latter is justified if the particular variant occurs only rarely, or if the set of reference samples J i) is chosen such that they are unlikely to contain the variant, e.g. by only selecting samples with a variant allele frequency (VAF) smaller than a predefined threshold, typically ∼10%.

Bioinformatics

She then added, "We all know that a crooked operation is only rarely, if ever, just a little bit crooked".

The New York Times

Whatever Bellows was after, he pursued it restlessly, not just in his final canvases but through most of his busy and multifaceted, if truncated, career, and only rarely did he catch up with it.

The New York Times - Arts

The deal includes a slight redrawing of the boundaries of Gabon's Lope Reserve, subtracting 400 square miles of land on the southeastern flank that holds the richest stands of valuable okoume trees, and adding about 200 square miles of previously unprotected terrain that includes remote upland forests that have only rarely, if ever, felt the footfall of a human.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "if only rarely" to acknowledge an exception or a less common occurrence, especially when contrasting it with a more prevalent situation or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "if only rarely" when you simply mean 'rarely'. The 'if only' part introduces a conditional element, suggesting that something might happen, but infrequently. If there is no implied condition, stick to 'rarely' or 'seldom'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if only rarely" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the infrequency of an event or action. It is often used to qualify a statement, acknowledging that something may occur but not often. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis, which confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if only rarely" functions as an adverbial modifier, expressing that something happens infrequently while acknowledging its possibility. Ludwig AI identifies its correct usage across contexts such as News & Media and Science, and the analysis shows the phrase has a neutral register. When using "if only rarely", ensure it's appropriate for the conditional context and is not simply replacing the word 'rarely'. Alternative phrases, such as "seldom" or "infrequently", may be more suitable in certain situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom though it may be

Emphasizes the infrequency more directly, using 'seldom' as the primary descriptor instead of a conditional.

even though infrequently

Highlights the contrast between the event and its rare occurrence.

though it seldom occurs

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the lack of occurrence.

albeit uncommonly

Replaces 'if only rarely' with a more formal, concise expression.

even when infrequent

Simplifies the wording while maintaining the conditional aspect and emphasizing the infrequency.

scarce as it is

Uses a more figurative expression to denote rarity.

on the rare occasion that

Shifts the emphasis to the few instances when something happens.

infrequent as it might be

Stresses the unexpected nature of the rare event.

hardly ever

Offers a shorter, more direct way of expressing infrequency.

not very often

Presents a simple, straightforward substitute for the original phrase.

FAQs

How can I use "if only rarely" in a sentence?

Use "if only rarely" to indicate that something happens infrequently, often emphasizing the contrast with what usually occurs. For instance: "He visits his hometown, "if only rarely", but he cherishes those moments."

What phrases are similar to "if only rarely"?

Alternatives to "if only rarely" include "seldom", "infrequently", or "hardly ever". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of formality desired.

Is it more formal to say "if only rarely" or "seldom"?

Seldom is generally considered more formal than "if only rarely". "If only rarely" carries a slight conditional nuance that "seldom" lacks, making it suitable for contexts where the infrequent nature of something is being highlighted against a backdrop of possibility.

When should I not use the phrase "if only rarely"?

Avoid using "if only rarely" when you simply want to state that something is uncommon without implying any condition or expectation. In such cases, using "rarely" or "infrequently" would be more appropriate.