infrequent event

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "infrequent event" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an occurrence that does not happen often or is rare. Example: "The annual meteor shower is an infrequent event that attracts many stargazers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because the speaker votes only in the infrequent event of a tie, the move means the opposition has effectively lost Mr. Slipper's vote.

The New York Times

Children today might have regular conversations with their grandparents on the phone or via e-mail, whereas a generation ago the phone call would have been a formal and infrequent event.

The New York Times

Cattle were never so driven.If anyone disobeys (beginning to be a slightly less infrequent event), the whip can be withdrawn which can mean that the seat in parliament is also withdrawn at the next election.

The Economist

"In the infrequent event that we are ordered by the court to remove a decision from Westlaw," explained John Shaughnessy, a spokesman for the service, which is owned by Thomson Reuters, "we will comply with the order, deleting the text of the decision but keeping the title of the case and its docket number.

The New York Times

As Mr Vedral points out, it says that an unexpected, infrequent event contains much more information than a more regular happening.Once he has defined information, Mr Vedral proceeds to show how information theory can be applied to biology, physics, economics, sociology and philosophy.

The Economist

Thankfully, battery changes should be an infrequent event.

TechCrunch

Therefore, transmitting an event packet is an infrequent event as opposed to the data transmission.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Results: invasive pneumococcal disease was a relatively infrequent event with an incidence of 1.9 per 1000 person years.

Journal of Clinical Virology

Instead of maintaining servers for an infrequent event, the company can pinpoint the exact resources it needs, only when it needs them for a given event.

TechCrunch

To prevent major, though infrequent, event occurrence, it is important to consider accident precursors (symptoms of hazards) such as operational deviations, mishaps, and near misses, in order to prevent events at source rather than controlling or mitigating them.

Process Safety and Environmental Protection

The lifetime odds of dying in a plane crash - a tragic but infrequent event - are 1 in 96,566.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "infrequent event", consider quantifying the infrequency if possible (e.g., "an event that occurs less than once a year") to provide more context and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "infrequent event" when the event is actually quite common. Ensure the event truly occurs rarely before using this phrase to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "infrequent event" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples show it describing occurrences that are not common, either in general contexts or specific fields like science and politics. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "infrequent event" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe something that occurs rarely. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig, it serves to highlight the rarity of an occurrence. While generally neutral to formal in register, it's important to ensure that the event truly is infrequent before using the phrase, avoiding overstatement. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered usable in written English and accurately describes events that do not happen often.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasional event

Focuses on the event happening from time to time, but not regularly.

rare occurrence

Highlights the scarcity of the event.

uncommon happening

Emphasizes the unusual nature of the occurrence.

sporadic incident

Suggests the event occurs irregularly and unpredictably.

isolated case

Implies the event is unique and not part of a pattern.

seldom seen event

Highlights how rarely the event is observed.

exceptional instance

Focuses on the event being an exception to the norm.

unusual phenomenon

Emphasizes the event's deviation from typical occurrences.

exceptional circumstance

Highlights the circumstantial and rare nature of the event.

out-of-the-ordinary situation

Suggests the event is not typical or routine.

FAQs

How can I use "infrequent event" in a sentence?

You can use "infrequent event" to describe something that doesn't happen often. For example, "A solar eclipse is an infrequent event that attracts many observers."

What are some alternatives to saying "infrequent event"?

Alternatives include "rare occurrence", "uncommon happening", or "occasional event", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "infrequent event" in formal writing?

Yes, "infrequent event" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in scientific, academic, or professional contexts where precise language is important. However, ensure the level of formality matches the rest of the document.

What's the difference between "infrequent event" and "unusual event"?

"Infrequent event" emphasizes how rarely something happens, whereas "unusual event" focuses on how out of the ordinary it is. An infrequent event may be predictable (like a comet sighting), while an unusual event is often unexpected.