not often used

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'not often used' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something which does not occur frequently, or is not seen/used regularly. Example sentence: These books are not often used by students and are rarely seen on library shelves.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's not often used to describe lawsuits either.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is not often used, its gates usually being locked.

The New York Times

Humility and leadership are words not often used in the same sentence.

University of California, Berkeley

Adjectives not often used in high fashion, unless describing Christopher Kane.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The two countries have hot lines, but these are not often used constructively even during crises.

The New York Times

Green papaya is not often used in American salads, but it is a wonderful addition that needs more exposure.

The New York Times

Food experts say that foreign chefs, here and there, add spices not often used in Italy, like coriander and cumin.

The New York Times

"Integral, pivotal and huge," he said, turning to words not often used by a Lib Dem politician.

The Guardian

However, on-line process control with in-mould sensors is not often used in industrial manufacturing of RTM parts.

Polymer Testing

It is not often used by someone whose income comes from writing books, giving talks and doing consulting work.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Blue Apron focuses on interesting, not-often-used ingredients each week to teach the user something new, and the first time around is just practice.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing trends or changes, pair "not often used" with specific data or examples to highlight the degree of infrequency.

Common error

Avoid overly passive constructions when using "not often used". Instead of saying "The tool is not often used by professionals", a more direct statement would be "Professionals don't often use the tool."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not often used" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating that it is employed, utilized, or happens infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It highlights the rarity of an action, object, or concept.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Science

29%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not often used" serves as an adjectival modifier, indicating that something happens infrequently. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness, and its purpose is to communicate the uncommon nature of an action or object. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing contexts, including news, academic writing, and general content. As evidenced by the numerous examples in Ludwig, "not often used" is a very common expression. To enhance writing, consider using it with specific data to highlight the infrequency and avoid overly passive constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely employed

Focuses on the scarcity of its usage.

infrequently utilized

Highlights the lack of frequent utilization.

seldom applied

Emphasizes the rarity of application in a specific context.

uncommonly exercised

Suggests that something is not regularly put into practice.

sporadically implemented

Indicates that implementation occurs irregularly.

occasionally adopted

Stresses that adoption is not a routine practice.

scarcely invoked

Focuses on the limited instances of something being called upon or used.

irregularly practiced

Points to the inconsistency in the performance or application of something.

unfrequently resorted to

Highlights that seeking recourse to something is unusual.

unusually deployed

Emphasizes the uncommon nature of a deployment or usage.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "not often used"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely employed", "infrequently utilized", or "seldom applied" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "not often used"?

Yes, "not often used" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and it is commonly found in various types of writing.

How can I use "not often used" in a sentence?

You can use "not often used" to describe something that isn't used or done frequently, such as, "This feature is "not often used" because it's quite complex".

What is the difference between "not often used" and "rarely used"?

Both phrases indicate infrequency, but "rarely used" suggests a lower frequency than ""not often used"". "Rarely" implies something is exceptional, while "not often" simply suggests it's less frequent.