increasingly rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasingly rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is becoming less common over time. Example: "As technology advances, handwritten letters have become increasingly rare in our digital age."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Small classes are increasingly rare.

The New York Times

Such behaviour is increasingly rare.

The Economist

Snow is increasingly rare.

The New York Times

Dissent is increasingly rare.

The Guardian

Yet such discoveries have become increasingly rare.

The New York Times - Books

But such happy accidents are increasingly rare.

The New Yorker

But her type is increasingly rare.

The New York Times

Private pensions are increasingly rare.

The Washington Post

Dugongs - aka sea cows - are increasingly rare.

The Guardian - Travel

At Rinas airport, planes became increasingly rare.

The New Yorker

The curious clinician is becoming increasingly rare.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "increasingly rare" to describe trends or phenomena that are observably diminishing over time. Provide context to illustrate the decrease, enhancing clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly rare" for situations that are already extremely uncommon. Instead, reserve it for describing an observable shift towards scarcity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "increasingly rare" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, serving to describe a noun or concept that is becoming less common over time. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

11%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increasingly rare" is a common phrase used to describe something becoming less frequent over time. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and academic contexts. While alternatives exist, "increasingly rare" provides a clear and effective way to highlight diminishing trends. It's important to use the phrase judiciously, reserving it for situations where a noticeable decline is evident, avoiding overstatement, ensuring its impact in conveying the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ever rarer

Emphasizes a continuous decline in frequency to an absolute minimum.

increasingly infrequent

Focuses on the growing lack of frequency.

increasingly scarce

Highlights the growing shortage or lack of availability.

progressively rare

Indicates a gradual decrease in occurrence over time.

becoming less common

A more general way to express that something is happening less often.

growing rarity

Highlights the increasing state of being uncommon.

less and less frequent

Stresses the continuous reduction in how often something happens.

dwindling in frequency

Suggests a shrinking or diminishing occurrence.

vanishingly rare

Implies that something is almost not seen anymore.

exceptionally rare

Highlights that something is rare to the extreme.

FAQs

How can I use "increasingly rare" in a sentence?

Use "increasingly rare" to describe something that is becoming less common over time. For example, "Handwritten letters are "becoming less common" in the digital age because of technology."

What are some alternatives to "increasingly rare"?

You can use alternatives such as "increasingly infrequent", "increasingly scarce", or ""becoming less common"" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "more and more rare"?

While understandable, "increasingly rare" is the more standard and stylistically preferred way to express that something is becoming less common. "More and more rare" is less frequently used in formal writing.

What makes something "increasingly rare" versus simply "rare"?

"Rare" describes something that is uncommon at a given moment. "Increasingly rare" describes a trend indicating that something that may have been more common in the past is now observed less and less frequently, showing a change over time.