rare while

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rare while" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete expression and lacks context for proper usage. Example: "It is rare while we see such talent in our community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

And once in a rare while, some of them will.

The Guardian - Books

By and large, I love (and I don't use that word lightly) my customers, but once in a rare while, I get questions and comments that I know would never be addressed to a male bartender.

The New York Times - Magazine

You're only going to get Happiness Factory once in a rare while.

Forbes

But once in a rare while, they are cultural attractions in their own right, living museums whose walls pulse with the weight of history.

BBC

I visit Hall and Christ and little Pete Terhune once a year or so and speak by phone once in a rare while with a couple of other performers.

Vice

Once in a rare while, the reason for the unusually long delay is completely legitimate and makes logical sense -- for example, they are planning for the month the bride has off after she finishes medical school, or one of them is active duty-military and they're working around deployment schedules and want to plan the wedding together before one of them leaves.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Cost cutting may make such consultations even rarer, while patients surfing the Web may find information that leads them to question their doctors more.

The New York Times - Health

"We are constantly overestimating rare dangers while underestimating common ones".

The New York Times

The actress began collecting rare figurines while she was married to Bruce Willis.

Independent

A production company engaged by Taylor Swift has been accused of endangering rare birds while shooting a music video.

Independent

This can happen to the rare individual while alive, though it is a temporary state of being then.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to convey the idea of something infrequent, replace the phrase "rare while" with clearer alternatives like "rarely", "seldom", or "infrequently" to ensure grammatical correctness and improved readability.

Common error

Avoid using "rare while" to directly connect two contrasting ideas. This construction is grammatically awkward. Instead, clarify the relationship between the ideas using "rarely" followed by a contrasting statement using conjunctions like "but" or "yet."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rare while" functions as an attempt to connect two ideas, indicating that something is infrequent in conjunction with another event. As Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is not considered standard or grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rare while" is used to connect two ideas, with one being infrequent. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect and not standard English. Grammatically, it's more effective to use adverbs like "rarely" or "seldom" to convey infrequency. The phrase appears in various sources, including news and scientific articles, but clearer alternatives are generally preferred. Key advice includes replacing "rare while" with better alternatives to improve clarity and avoid grammatical awkwardness. The most frequent contexts are News & Media and Science, despite its grammatical issues. For instance, instead of "It is rare while we see such talent", it is better to say "We "rarely" see such talent".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

happens rarely

This alternative emphasizes rarity through the adverb "rarely" modifying the verb.

seldom happens

This option swaps "rare" with "seldom" and replaces the conjunction with a verb, creating a more standard sentence structure.

almost never happens

Expresses the idea that something is extremely unlikely to occur.

occurs infrequently

This uses an adverb to modify the verb, highlighting the low frequency of the occurrence.

hardly ever occurs

This conveys a sense of something happening with significant infrequency.

infrequent occurrence

This alternative replaces the conjunction with a noun phrase emphasizing the lack of frequency.

not a common occurrence

This option provides a more descriptive and grammatically sound way of expressing rarity.

uncommon event

Replaces the entire phrase with a noun-based expression indicating something not often seen.

scarcely ever happens

Uses a more emphatic expression to indicate a very low frequency of occurrence.

on the rare occasion that

This phrase replaces "rare while" with a more formal and descriptive expression indicating exceptional circumstances.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "rare while" to improve clarity?

To enhance clarity, replace "rare while" with alternatives like "rarely", "seldom", or "infrequently". For instance, instead of "It is rare while we see such talent", try "We "rarely" see such talent".

Is "rare while" grammatically correct?

The phrase "rare while" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use adverbs like "rarely", "seldom", or "infrequently" for better clarity and correctness.

What are some common mistakes when using "rare while"?

A common mistake is using "rare while" as a direct conjunction to contrast two ideas. It's more accurate to use "rarely" or another adverb of frequency followed by a contrasting statement connected with conjunctions like "but" or "yet".

Are there specific contexts where "rare while" is acceptable?

While some sources use "rare while", it's generally advised to avoid it in formal writing. In most contexts, alternatives like "rarely", "seldom", or rephrasing the sentence will provide greater clarity and grammatical correctness.