quite seldom

USAGE SUMMARY

"quite seldom" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is an adverb used to indicate something rarely happens or occurs. For example, "I visit my grandparents quite seldom, but always look forward to it when I do."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Regarding the Higgs particle, it is quite seldom that a discovery is awarded already the year after, even though this what [Nobel's] will states," he said.

The Guardian

Lithiasis might be CT negative because of the presence of false positives on grey-scale and, quite seldom, because of sampling mistakes due to CT parameters that were not compatible with the dimensions of the small lithiasis.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

It is seen that there are values of σ2HVS-M or lmlarger than 25 but this happens quite seldom and mostly in homogeneous image regions (analyze the noisy image in Figure 5a and the map of σ2HVS-M or lmin Figure 5b jointly).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

This strain is however quite seldom used in experiments compared with the related C57BL/6J strain that we consequently used for experiments regarding food consistency.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

In contrast to an ovarian carcinoma, invasion in the lymph nodes and metastatic spread of BOT are quite seldom and usually non-invasive (Hart, 2005; Cadron et al, 2007; Kumpulainen et al, 2007).

British Journal of Cancer

While a few studies have addressed the spreading of the HFA policy to the member states [ 7- 11], this is quite seldom based on any theory of policy change or policy transfer.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

However, these cases were rather seldom reported but may account for the quite good performance of nearly 66% in the dichoptic condition.

Plosone

Once sweet olives develop a woody trunk they are quite durable, seldom bothered by pests or diseases, able to recover from insults like overfeeding and underwatering.

The New York Times

Real parents are seldom quite as lucky.

The New York Times

Other kinds of scientific coloration may be equally arbitrary, though seldom quite so British.

The New York Times - Arts

The final option is quite novel – and seldom seen so far in UK spin-outs – the joint-venture company.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite seldom" to add a touch of formality when indicating that something does not happen often, particularly in written communication or professional contexts. Remember that 'seldom' itself carries a somewhat formal tone.

Common error

Avoid using "quite seldom" in very casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "not very often" or "hardly ever" are often more appropriate for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite seldom" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the degree to which an action or event occurs. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable and serves to emphasize the infrequency. Its usage is exemplified in sentences from various sources, including scientific journals and news articles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "quite seldom" is an adverbial phrase used to express that something happens infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a grammatically correct expression. Analysis of available examples reveals that it's more common in scientific and news-related contexts. While "quite seldom" is acceptable, alternatives like "rarely", "not very often", or "infrequently" can offer similar meanings with varying degrees of formality. When deciding whether to use the expression "quite seldom", consider both the context and the intended audience, opting for simpler or more common alternatives in informal settings. In summary, while correct, "quite seldom" should be used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only seldom

A more direct variation, focusing solely on the rarity of the event.

seldom indeed

Adds emphasis to the 'seldom' aspect, indicating a particularly low frequency.

not very often

Offers a straightforward alternative, using common vocabulary to express the same idea of infrequency.

very infrequently

Replaces "quite seldom" with an adverbial phrase emphasizing the lack of frequency.

hardly ever

A more colloquial alternative emphasizing how rarely something happens.

scarcely ever

Similar to 'hardly ever', this option stresses the minimal occurrence of something.

relatively rarely

Substitutes "quite seldom" with a phrase that includes a qualifier, indicating a moderate degree of rarity.

on rare occasions

Uses a prepositional phrase to highlight that something happens only in specific, infrequent instances.

comparatively uncommonly

Replaces "quite seldom" with a slightly more formal expression, suggesting a comparison to a common occurrence.

infrequently enough

Emphasizes the lack of frequency to a significant degree.

FAQs

What does "quite seldom" mean?

"Quite seldom" means something happens rarely or infrequently. It's a more emphatic way of saying "seldom".

How can I use "quite seldom" in a sentence?

You can use "quite seldom" to describe actions or events that don't occur often. For example, "I visit museums "quite seldom" because of my busy schedule."

What are some alternatives to "quite seldom"?

Alternatives include "not very often", "rarely", "infrequently", or "hardly ever".

Is "quite seldom" formal or informal?

"Quite seldom" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "not often" or "hardly ever". It's suitable for written communication and professional settings.