rare traffic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rare traffic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe infrequent or unusual occurrences of traffic, such as vehicles on a road or data on a network. Example: "During the holiday season, we experienced rare traffic on the usually busy highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Only if an officer mans the intersection do vehicles slow for the rare traffic lights ("street décor," one taxi driver called them) and lane markers serve no clear purpose.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Certainly the perception is that if a terror alert goes from yellow to orange, there will be long lineups at the border," Mr. Wolstenholme said, adding that border delays are rare for noncommercial traffic.

The New York Times - Travel

The application of a new calculation method shows that only in very specific and rare cases of traffic demand, can a turbo-roundabout be expected to provide more capacity than a double- lane conventional roundabout of similar size.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

Legambiente, which has been tracking the illegal dumping for the past 10 years, estimates that the number of mafia clans involved in toxic waste disposal, illegal construction and trafficking rare birds has risen from 19 to 64.

The Guardian

Two out of 11 persons investigated for trafficking rare cacti (Appendixes I and II CITES) worked in a garden center.

Crime Science

Eleven persons were investigated for trafficking rare cacti from Chile, Argentina, and Peru (Appendixes I and II CITES).

Crime Science

In the case of other, more rare but substantial trafficking defect mutations (http://www.cftr2.org), which also cause severe CF lung pancreatic and liver involvement, existing correctors have not yet been shown to be effective.

Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics

Passenger traffic is rare on the CPR these days, so rare that farmers and even trackmaintenance workers wave and cheer like the Railway Children as we pass.

BBC

Both have terraces, and while the road passes beyond, traffic is rare.

The Guardian - Travel

Car-free days may be popular, but there is almost no infrastructure for cyclists and spotting someone riding a bike in peak hour traffic is rare.

The Guardian

On the other hand, studies focusing on unconventional intersection design for heterogeneous traffic are rare.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where traffic volume is unexpectedly low, use "rare traffic" to emphasize the unusual nature of the event. For instance, "We experienced rare traffic on the highway due to the holiday."

Common error

Avoid using "rare traffic" when you actually mean "dangerous traffic" or "disruptive traffic". "Rare" refers to frequency, not to the potential negative consequences of traffic incidents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rare traffic" functions as a noun phrase where "rare" modifies the noun "traffic". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. The examples illustrate how it describes unusual or infrequent instances of vehicular or data flow.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rare traffic" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe an unusually low amount of vehicular or data flow. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides examples from various sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal business documents. While "rare traffic" is versatile, it's important to distinguish its meaning—low frequency—from other attributes like danger or disruption. Alternatives include "infrequent traffic", "light traffic", and "sparse traffic", offering nuanced options depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infrequent traffic

Replaces "rare" with a direct synonym, "infrequent", maintaining the core meaning.

uncommon traffic

Substitutes "rare" with "uncommon", indicating a less typical occurrence of traffic.

light traffic

Focuses on the quantity of traffic, implying a low volume, similar to "rare traffic".

sparse traffic

Highlights the dispersed nature of traffic, suggesting few vehicles or data points.

occasional traffic

Emphasizes that traffic happens only sometimes, making it not a regular occurrence.

limited traffic

Indicates a restriction on the amount of traffic, aligning with the idea of it being rare.

reduced traffic

Suggests a decrease in the usual amount of traffic, implying it is now rare.

minimal traffic

Conveys the idea of very little traffic, close to the concept of "rare traffic".

scant traffic

Uses "scant" to denote a small amount of traffic, making it a less common sight.

unusual traffic patterns

Shifts the focus to the pattern of traffic, suggesting that the rarity lies in how it flows rather than its overall amount.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "rare traffic" in a sentence?

You can use "rare traffic" to describe an unusual lack of vehicles or activity on a road or network. For instance, "We encountered "rare traffic" on our commute this morning, likely due to the holiday."

What's a good alternative to "rare traffic"?

Alternatives include "infrequent traffic", "light traffic", or "sparse traffic" depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to use "light traffic" or "rare traffic"?

"Light traffic" typically indicates a low volume of traffic that is still somewhat expected. "Rare traffic" implies an unexpected or unusual absence of traffic, suggesting something out of the ordinary.

Can "rare traffic" be used to describe internet data flow?

Yes, while often used in the context of physical vehicles, "rare traffic" can also be applied to describe unusually low data flow on a network or website. For example, "The website experienced "rare traffic" during the server maintenance period."