is rarely seen

USAGE SUMMARY

"is rarely seen" is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to convey that something does not happen often, or that it is very rare. For example: "He is rarely seen in town, so whenever he appears, everyone takes notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Belichick is rarely seen smiling.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Hussein is rarely seen in public.

The New York Times

Ceramic d14 is rarely seen and addressed in research articles.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Polgar's provocative choice, 7... h5, is rarely seen.

The New York Times

NICOLA MARZOVILLA is rarely seen without a wineglass at hand.

The New York Times

Such longevity is rarely seen these days, anyway.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Lingenfelter's collection is rarely seen by the public.

The New York Times

He sees, but is rarely seen – the ideal Vidalian narrator.

The Guardian - Books

In photographs André Breton is rarely seen smiling.

The New York Times - Arts

She is rarely seen without her German shepherd, Wei Wei.

The New York Times

But he is rarely seen on large or small screen.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is rarely seen" to indicate that something is uncommon but not entirely absent. It implies a degree of visibility, however infrequent.

Common error

Avoid using "is rarely seen" when something is truly nonexistent. Opt for phrases like "is never seen" or "is entirely absent" to convey complete absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is rarely seen" functions as a descriptive predicate, indicating that the subject of the sentence is not commonly observed. It is used to express the infrequency of an event, object, or phenomenon. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, evidenced by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is rarely seen" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express that something is uncommon or infrequently observed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears across diverse contexts, including scientific literature, news media, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context aligns with its meaning of infrequency rather than complete absence. Consider alternatives like "seldom observed" or "infrequently encountered" for nuanced expression. Be mindful not to overstate the rarity when something is entirely absent. By keeping these points in mind, you can effectively and accurately use this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is seldom observed

Replaces "rarely seen" with "seldom observed", focusing on the act of observation.

is infrequently encountered

Substitutes "rarely seen" with "infrequently encountered", highlighting the low frequency of encounters.

is scarcely visible

Replaces "rarely seen" with "scarcely visible", emphasizing the difficulty in seeing something.

is uncommonly found

Substitutes "rarely seen" with "uncommonly found", focusing on the rarity of finding something.

is not often spotted

Replaces "rarely seen" with "not often spotted", emphasizing the act of spotting or noticing.

is hardly ever noticed

Substitutes "rarely seen" with "hardly ever noticed", highlighting the infrequency of being noticed.

is exceptionally uncommon

Replaces "rarely seen" with "exceptionally uncommon", stressing the exceptional rarity.

is virtually unseen

Substitutes "rarely seen" with "virtually unseen", suggesting something is almost never seen.

is almost never witnessed

Replaces "rarely seen" with "almost never witnessed", emphasizing the infrequency of witnessing something.

is notably absent

Substitutes "rarely seen" with "notably absent", highlighting the absence or lack of something.

FAQs

How can I use "is rarely seen" in a sentence?

You can use "is rarely seen" to indicate that something doesn't happen or appear often. For instance, "A collodion membrane "is rarely seen"."

What are some alternatives to "is rarely seen"?

Alternatives include "is seldom observed", "is infrequently encountered", or "is scarcely visible", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is rarely seen" or "is seldom seen"?

Both "is rarely seen" and "is seldom seen" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on stylistic preference, although "is rarely seen" might be slightly more common.

What's the difference between "is rarely seen" and "is not seen"?

"Is rarely seen" implies that something exists but is uncommon, while "is not seen" suggests something is completely absent or nonexistent. The former indicates infrequency, the latter implies absence.