infrequent speech

USAGE SUMMARY

"infrequent speech" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe speech that occurs rarely or not often. Example: "His infrequent speech made it difficult to gauge his thoughts." Alternative expressions include "rare speech" and "sparse speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For policies to work, they have to be explained to the country, not once but again and again, and not just by the President in infrequent speeches but by the senior-level officials who helped establish them and are charged with carrying them out.

The New Yorker

Perioperatively, acute pain was mild to moderate; edema, mucosal erosion, paresthesia, tinnitus were infrequent; and speech, swallowing taste, or throat irritation were unchanged.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

In his infrequent stump speeches, he has had to be helped to the podium by aides.

The New York Times

Renvall and Hari [ 27] reported that electroencephalographic studies demonstrate smaller auditory responses to infrequent deviances of speech and non speech sounds in dyslexic than normal-reading subjects.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The frequent tone was edited to have the same duration as the frequent speech stimulus in Experiments 1 3 (100 ms); the infrequent tones differed from it in either duration (170 ms) or intensity (−6 dB) as in Experiment 3.

Cerebral Cortex

"In 1905, when this provision was enacted, the First Amendment was an infrequent basis for litigation," and "the government routinely restricted" offensive speech, Tam's brief said.

The Washington Post

Method 2 compares responses between acoustically identical sounds presented either in a control sequence or as an infrequent sound in the oddball sequence; therefore, these identity MMN responses must reflect discrimination of speech sounds, rather than acoustic differences between them (Jacobsen and Schröger 2001, 2003; Kujala et al. 2007).

Cerebral Cortex

Applying a multi-feature Mismatch Negativity (MMN) design with subjects instructed to ignore speech stimuli, we recorded magnetic brain responses to particles (up, down) auditorily presented as infrequent "deviant" stimuli in the context of frequently occurring verb "standard" stimuli.

Brain and Language

Hurlburt et al.'s report that the former is infrequent is unsurprising in the context of participants' background assumptions about what kind of thing inner speech can be.

Consciousness and Cognition

PROFANITY -- Mild and infrequent.

The New York Times

PROFANITY -- Infrequent but strong.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character or situation with limited communication, use "infrequent speech" to highlight the rarity and impact of each instance of speaking.

Common error

While accurate, using "infrequent speech" repeatedly can sound repetitive. Mix it up with synonyms like "rare speech" or descriptions of non-verbal communication to add variety to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "infrequent speech" functions as a descriptive term, characterizing the nature of someone's or something's speech patterns. It is used to denote that instances of speaking are not common. Although Ludwig doesn't provide direct examples, its construction is grammatically correct, describing a quality of speech.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "infrequent speech" serves as a descriptor for speech that occurs rarely. Grammatically sound, it functions to inform about the scarcity of speaking instances. Although Ludwig does not offer direct examples, it is considered correct and usable in written English according to Ludwig AI. For alternative expressions, consider "rare speech" or "sparse speech". When writing, remember that overuse can lead to repetitiveness, and varying your descriptions can enhance the quality of your writing. This phrase is versatile, fitting comfortably into neutral registers across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rare speech

This alternative uses a more common synonym for "infrequent", keeping the structure identical.

sparse speech

This suggests a limited amount of speech, emphasizing the lack of verbosity.

occasional speaking

This shifts the focus to the act of speaking itself, rather than the characteristic of the speech.

limited verbal communication

This is a more formal and broader way of expressing the same idea, encompassing all forms of verbal exchange.

scant discourse

This uses more formal vocabulary to describe the limited nature of the conversation.

infrequent verbalization

This is a more technical term, suitable for clinical or academic contexts.

rare vocal expression

This emphasizes the expression of thoughts or feelings through voice, which happens rarely.

seldom spoken words

This focuses on the words themselves, highlighting that they are not often uttered.

minimal dialogue

This emphasizes the limited exchange of conversation between two or more people.

sporadic utterances

This alternative indicates that speech occurs at irregular intervals.

FAQs

How can I describe speech that doesn't happen often?

You can use the phrase "infrequent speech". Alternatives include "rare speech" or "limited verbal communication" depending on the specific context.

Is "infrequent speech" formal or informal?

"Infrequent speech" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "scant discourse" might be preferable in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "infrequent speech" and "quietness"?

"Infrequent speech" refers specifically to the characteristic of speaking rarely. "Quietness" describes a general lack of sound or noise, which may or may not be related to speech. Someone might be quiet due to other sounds or circumstances, not just a lack of speaking.

Can "infrequent speech" be used to describe written communication?

While "infrequent speech" directly relates to spoken language, you could use it metaphorically to describe someone who rarely writes or communicates in written form. A more direct phrase for written communication could be "infrequent writing".