least often

USAGE SUMMARY

"least often" is correct and usable in written English.
You generally use it when comparing two or more things to determine which one happens least often. Example: We eat out at restaurants least often, preferring to cook at home instead.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most frequently victimized, least often supported.

The Guardian - Opinion

I, at least, often do take younger women out.

The New York Times - Magazine

Least often reported was formulating a course of action, followed by monitoring and managing patient outcomes.

Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (1996)

America's truly interesting pianists are often the ones we hear least often from.

The New York Times - Arts

Her lovers, on "Work Out" at least, often come to her.

The New York Times

Lung cancer is diagnosed least often in Utah and most often in Kentucky, the report said.

The New York Times

People at least often have a conversation about technology's impact on their lives.

The New York Times - Tech

Yet Marienleben is probably the least often performed of all of them.

The Guardian - Music

Light precipitation occurs least often in the inner tropics with 56.8% of the time.

Nature

Enlisted recruiters are the majority and tend to travel the least, often working by automobile.

The New York Times

By far the leading cause — and the one least often recognized — is advancing age.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "least often" when accuracy and objectivity are required, as it's more precise than vague alternatives like 'rarely'.

Common error

Avoid using "least often" when you simply mean something happens rarely, without comparing it to anything else. For example, instead of saying "Mistakes happen least often", consider saying "Mistakes rarely happen" if there's no comparison being made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least often" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the frequency with which an action or event occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is used to indicate the lowest frequency among a set of possibilities, providing a comparative context to the statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "least often" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate the lowest frequency among a set of actions or events. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. It is most prevalent in scientific and news-related content, signaling a neutral to formal register. When employing this phrase, ensure a comparative context is established to avoid ambiguity. By understanding its function and communicative purpose, writers can effectively convey relative infrequency with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not frequently

Uses a direct negation of "frequently" to convey low occurrence.

rarely

A single-word synonym emphasizing infrequency.

seldom

A more formal synonym for "rarely".

most infrequently

Uses a more formal synonym for "often".

almost never

Emphasizes the near absence of the event or action.

scarcely ever

Similar to 'hardly ever' but with a slightly more emphatic tone.

hardly ever

Expresses a similar low frequency using a more common idiom.

in rare instances

Highlights the uncommon nature of the occurrences.

on few occasions

Rephrases the concept using a prepositional phrase to indicate limited instances.

to a minimal extent

Shifts the focus to the degree or amount of occurrence.

FAQs

How to use "least often" in a sentence?

Use "least often" to compare the frequency of two or more actions or events. For example, "I visit my parents most often, my siblings less often and my grandparents "least often"".

What is a synonym for "least often"?

Synonyms for "least often" include "rarely", "seldom", "hardly ever", or "most infrequently". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is it correct to say "the least often"?

While grammatically possible, "the least often" is less common than simply "least often". The inclusion of "the" can sometimes sound awkward, especially when comparing frequencies. It’s usually better to omit "the" for clarity.

What's the difference between "least often" and "less often"?

"Least often" is used when comparing three or more things to indicate the one with the lowest frequency. "Less often" is used to compare only two things. For example, "I eat apples less often than bananas, and oranges "least often" of all".