not very often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not very often" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurs infrequently. Example: "I go to the gym not very often, maybe once or twice a month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"But not very often".

The New York Times

" but not very often.

Yale University

Not very often, it seems.

The Economist

"Not very often," she said.

The New Yorker

At times, not very often.

The New Yorker

Short answer: not very often.

The New York Times

Not very often these days.

The New York Times

Not very often, though.

The New York Times

SHARPE: Not very often.

The New York Times - Arts

Not very often, presumably.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

"We don't very often see forensic studies like this".

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not very often" to soften a negative statement. For instance, instead of saying "I never exercise", try "I exercise not very often".

Common error

In formal writing, relying too heavily on "not very often" can make your text sound less polished. Opt for more concise and sophisticated alternatives like "infrequently" or "seldom" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not very often" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to indicate frequency. It specifies how often an action occurs, indicating that the action happens infrequently. Ludwig provides numerous examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

13%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not very often" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to indicate that something occurs infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "rarely" or "seldom" in academic or professional writing. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively use "not very often" to convey the infrequency of events with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely

Expresses infrequency with a single word.

seldom

Similar to rarely, but can sometimes imply a more formal tone.

infrequently

A more formal synonym for "not very often".

not frequently

Direct synonym, slightly more formal.

on rare occasions

Emphasizes the scarcity of the event.

once in a while

Suggests occasional occurrence, but still infrequent.

hardly ever

Emphasizes the near absence of the event.

scarcely ever

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

not on many occasions

Highlights that the number of times something happens is limited.

only occasionally

Indicates that something happens from time to time but is not a regular occurrence.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "not very often"?

You can replace "not very often" with words like "rarely", "seldom", or "infrequently" to convey a similar meaning.

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

Here's an example: "I visit my family "not very often", maybe once a year."

What is the difference between "not very often" and "never"?

"Not very often" implies that something happens occasionally, whereas "never" means it doesn't happen at all. "Not very often" suggests a low frequency, while "never" suggests a zero frequency.

Is "not very often" formal or informal?

"Not very often" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "seldom" or "infrequently" might be preferred in highly formal writing.