it happens infrequently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it happens infrequently" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or occurrence that does not happen often. Example: "The train delays are frustrating, but thankfully, it happens infrequently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

And though it happens infrequently, he's also capable of delivering bald, untrusting explanations of his protagonist's trajectory.

The New York Times - Books

However frequently the pathophysiology of the reaction is unknown and it is considered to be allergic in nature because it happens infrequently or to certain populations and the presentation is consistent with an immunological response.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But it happened infrequently, for the closer one got to the border the emptier the land became, and the fewer people one encountered.

The New Yorker

Sure, this happens infrequently, but it's important to complain about it as much as humanly possible on social media when it does.

Huffington Post

Arbitraging corporate domiciles happens infrequently because it's usually intended to deliver more benefits to managers than to owners.

The New York Times

"This isn't something that happens infrequently in some place, it's happening regularly - two-thirds of girls say they face this problem.

The Guardian

The patient's relatives can request to participate in medical conferences with the various specialists involved in the dying patient's care, but traditionally this happens infrequently (relatives do not ask for such participation and doctors do not offer it).

Critical Care

Anderson said this happens "infrequently".

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet Anderson said this happens "infrequently".

The New Yorker

But he said this was unlikely to be common: The food bank's experience of feeding nearly 3,000 people a year tells us that this [fraud] happens infrequently.

The Guardian

Unlike in those sports, the main threat of concussion in baseball occurs when a ball hits a batter's head, which happens infrequently.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it happens infrequently" to downplay the significance of an event or to reassure someone that something is not a regular occurrence. For instance, "While errors can occur, it happens infrequently."

Common error

Ensure you are using "infrequently" to indicate something rare, not something that occurs often. Double-check your sentence to avoid unintentionally conveying the opposite meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it happens infrequently" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "happens" to indicate the frequency of the action. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples from Ludwig illustrate how it is used to qualify the occurrence of various events or situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it happens infrequently" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate that something occurs rarely. As Ludwig AI points out, it's usable in written English to soften the impact of a potential negative event or condition. This phrase appears across a spectrum of sources, from news and media to scientific articles, suggesting its adaptability for both formal and neutral registers. When aiming for variety in your writing, consider alternatives such as "it rarely occurs" or "it seldom happens" to convey a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it rarely occurs

Replaces "happens infrequently" with a more concise phrasing using "rarely occurs".

it seldom happens

Uses "seldom" instead of "infrequently", providing a slightly more formal tone.

it's a rare occurrence

Changes the structure to emphasize the rarity of the event as a noun phrase.

it doesn't happen often

Uses a more straightforward and common expression to convey the same meaning.

it's unusual for it to happen

Shifts the focus to the unusual nature of the event's occurrence.

it's uncommon

Simplifies the phrase to a single adjective, "uncommon".

it's not a frequent event

Rephrases to highlight the lack of frequency as a characteristic of the event.

it's an isolated incident

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

it's exceptional

Highlights the event as an exception to the norm.

it's an anomaly

Presents the event as a deviation from what is typical or expected.

FAQs

What does "it happens infrequently" mean?

The phrase "it happens infrequently" means that something does not occur often; it is rare or uncommon.

What can I say instead of "it happens infrequently"?

You can use alternatives like "it rarely occurs", "it seldom happens", or "it doesn't happen often".

Is "it happens infrequently" formal or informal?

The phrase "it happens infrequently" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "it rarely occurs" may sound slightly more formal.

How can I use "it happens infrequently" in a sentence?

You can use "it happens infrequently" to describe an event that is not common, such as "Although there might be delays, it happens infrequently, so we can likely adhere to the schedule".