pretty rare

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretty rare" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that doesn't happen very often - like a finding or occurrence. For example: "It is pretty rare that I come across a diamond of this quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's pretty rare".

The New Yorker

And it's pretty rare.

Harvard Business Review

But crime is pretty rare.

The New York Times

Are they all pretty rare?

Harvard Business Review

"That's pretty rare," purred Martin.

The Guardian - Travel

"It's pretty rare," he said.

The New York Times

Mercifully, however, they are still pretty rare.

The New Yorker

"In college basketball, it's pretty rare".

The New York Times - Sports

"Players like him are pretty rare".

The New York Times - Sports

But those cases are pretty rare".

The New York Times

But even so, it is pretty rare.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretty rare", consider the context. While generally acceptable, more formal writing might benefit from stronger synonyms like "uncommon" or "infrequent".

Common error

Avoid using "pretty rare" in highly formal documents like academic papers or legal briefs. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "uncommon" or "exceptional" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty rare" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree to which something is uncommon or infrequent. As indicated by Ludwig, it's a valid and understandable English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pretty rare" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is not frequently encountered. As affirmed by Ludwig, it is a valid phrase. While it sees frequent usage in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts, more formal settings might benefit from stronger, more precise synonyms like "uncommon" or "infrequent". When writing, be mindful of the context and choose the vocabulary that best suits the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly uncommon

Replaces "rare" with "uncommon" and uses "fairly" instead of "pretty", softening the statement.

somewhat unusual

Substitutes "rare" with "unusual" and "pretty" with "somewhat", indicating a deviation from the norm.

not very common

Expresses rarity by negating commonness, using a more descriptive approach.

infrequent occurrence

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, emphasizing the rarity of an event.

a rarity

Turns the phrase into a noun, directly stating that something is a rare instance.

seldom seen

Shifts the focus to visual observation, implying that something is rarely observed.

not a common sight

Highlights the infrequency of seeing something, similar to "seldom seen".

out of the ordinary

Indicates that something is exceptional and deviates from the usual.

few and far between

An idiomatic expression signifying that something is scarce and sparsely distributed.

thin on the ground

An idiomatic expression suggesting that something is scarce or lacking in abundance.

FAQs

What does "pretty rare" mean?

The phrase "pretty rare" means something doesn't happen very often; it's uncommon but not entirely unheard of. It suggests a moderate degree of infrequency.

What can I say instead of "pretty rare"?

You can use alternatives like "fairly uncommon", "somewhat unusual", or "not very common" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "pretty rare" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty rare" might be too informal for certain types of formal writing. Consider using more sophisticated vocabulary like "uncommon" or "infrequent".

Is "pretty rare" the same as "very rare"?

No, "pretty rare" implies a lower degree of rarity than "very rare". "Very rare" suggests something is exceptionally uncommon, while "pretty rare" just suggests it isn't a frequent occurrence.