largely uncommon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely uncommon" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is mostly not found or not frequently encountered. Example: "While some species of birds are common in this region, the blue-footed booby is largely uncommon."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Wikipedia has a large list of British terms that are largely uncommon in American English which can be found here.

WikiHow

It is a strategy still largely uncommon in public school systems, following more along the naming-rights policies at private schools, colleges and hospitals.

Los Angeles Times

The other options (peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation) are largely uncommon due to the extremely exorbitant cost, lack of facilities and manpower, and the predominantly urban location of the renal care centres [ 4, 6, 7].

BMC Nephrology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Published data report perioperative morbidity between 3% and 21% and mortality of 0.2% and 0.5%, and current data are uncommon, largely from previous decades, and almost exclusively single institutional.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Aspen is uncommon largely because its bark and roots are popular food for animals.

Wikipedia

Barcelona's city council said the ban would be largely symbolic, since it was uncommon to see women in the city wearing the full veil.

BBC

Reality was largely out, replaced by instant accessibility uncommon in today's sports games, the controls comprised of just three buttons and a stick, and an appealing degree of outright chaos.

Vice

It also advocates for a more detailed analysis of the dynamic FRP network, irrespective of the fact that the study of interdependence is relatively uncommon in party politics and largely absent from FRP research.

European Journal of Futures Research

Taken together, Drosha processing shifts may be a not uncommon event that has been largely ignored in the literature so far.

Plosone

Although relatively uncommon, the incidence is increasing, largely in younger women, associated with oncogenic HPV and smoking [ 5- 7].

BMC Infectious Diseases

In one uncommon subtype, the person may be largely mute, remain motionless in bizarre postures, or exhibit purposeless agitation, all signs of catatonia.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largely uncommon", ensure that "largely" accurately reflects the degree of uncommonness. Avoid using it if something is entirely absent; instead, use it when something is present but rare.

Common error

Avoid using "largely uncommon" when describing something that is completely nonexistent. This phrase suggests a degree of presence, however small, and is therefore inaccurate if the subject is entirely absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely uncommon" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun, indicating the degree to which something is not common. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It describes the extent to which something is rare or infrequent.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "largely uncommon" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that is mostly infrequent but not entirely absent. Ludwig AI validates this usage, suggesting it is suitable for contexts where precision and a nuanced understanding of frequency are important. While the phrase appears across various domains such as science, news, and general knowledge, its more formal tone makes it less frequent in casual conversation. Remember to use it judiciously, ensuring it accurately reflects the degree of uncommonness you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly infrequent

Replaces "largely" with "mostly" and "uncommon" with "infrequent", offering a slight variation in wording while keeping the core meaning.

largely atypical

Replaces "uncommon" with "atypical", focusing on the deviation from the typical.

predominantly rare

Substitutes "largely" with "predominantly" and "uncommon" with "rare", emphasizing the scarcity of something.

generally scarce

Replaces "largely" with "generally" and "uncommon" with "scarce", indicating that something is not often encountered.

chiefly unusual

Uses "chiefly" instead of "largely" and "unusual" instead of "uncommon" to convey something that is mainly not typical.

not widely observed

Expresses the idea that something is not frequently seen or noticed.

significantly less frequent

Replaces "largely uncommon" with a direct comparison indicating lower frequency.

primarily exceptional

Emphasizes that something is mainly an exception to the norm.

mostly out of the ordinary

Indicates that something is primarily not part of the usual or expected.

more the exception than the rule

Indicates that something happens mostly as an exception and not as a norm.

FAQs

How can I use "largely uncommon" in a sentence?

You can use "largely uncommon" to describe something that is mostly not found or not frequently encountered. For example: "While some species of birds are common in this region, the blue-footed booby is "largely uncommon"".

What can I say instead of "largely uncommon"?

You can use alternatives like "mostly infrequent", "predominantly rare", or "generally scarce" depending on the context.

Is "largely uncommon" the same as "not common"?

"Largely uncommon" suggests something is present but rare, while "not common" is a broader term that can include both rare occurrences and complete absence. Therefore, while similar, they are not perfectly interchangeable.

Which is correct, "largely uncommon" or "slightly uncommon"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey different degrees of rarity. "Largely uncommon" indicates something is mostly not common, whereas "slightly uncommon" suggests it's only a bit rare.