rarely

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rarely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something does not happen very often, or almost never. Example sentence: We rarely go out for dinner as a family.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(It rarely does).

The New York Times

It rarely is.

The New York Times

In the Polish debate, the issue of the Brussels diktat or loss of sovereignty has surfaced only very rarely of late.

The Guardian

The reticent producer cut his teeth running similarly toned, small, dark basement events in Bristol, so he'll be right at home with City Bass's back-to-basics ethos, and his focused, skilful mixing of rarely heard 90s NY house'n'garage with prime UK modernism will put everyone in the right headspace to get down.

The Guardian - Music

No, Miliband's problem was that he could only rarely get a clear shot.

The Guardian - Opinion

What's more, this sort of drama feels genuinely new: beyond the odd episode of Doctor Who and Quantum Leap, speculative alternate histories are rarely told on TV.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He used to like hill-walking and playing the guitar, but rarely finds the time now.

The Guardian

Hospital admissions at weekends are different – they rarely come from outpatient clinics, which are held on weekdays: most are emergency admissions and tend to be more serious.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rarely was the phrase "I could have done that" spat out with more venom.

The Guardian

After all, student tutors are rarely given decent teacher training (is anyone in higher education?) and have to learn as they go.

The Guardian

It sounds like a spoof: "The towels are rarely cleaned, the lightbulbs are replaced irregularly, the hotel water runs cold earlier than the guest would wish for... even the hotel sign saves energy by only having one letter lit up at night".

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rarely" to add nuance when describing the frequency of an event, distinguishing it from terms like "never" or "sometimes". It effectively conveys that something is uncommon but not impossible.

Common error

Avoid using "rarely" when you mean "never". "Rarely" indicates something happens occasionally, whereas "never" means it does not happen at all. Choose the word that accurately reflects the intended frequency.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "rarely" functions primarily as an adverb of frequency, modifying verbs to indicate that an action or event does not occur often. As noted by Ludwig AI, it accurately conveys the infrequency of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rarely" is a versatile adverb of frequency that indicates something does not happen often. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. Its function is to express infrequency, providing more nuance than terms like "never". While suitable for both formal and informal writing, "rarely" appears more frequently in journalism, showing a neutral register. Remember to use "rarely" to indicate uncommon occurrences, and avoid confusing it with "never". Consider alternatives like "seldom" or "infrequently" to add variation to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom

Expresses infrequency, similar to "rarely", but can sometimes imply a more formal tone.

infrequently

A more formal synonym for "rarely", emphasizing the lack of frequency.

hardly ever

An informal alternative to "rarely", suggesting a very low frequency.

scarcely

Similar to "rarely", but can also imply a sense of difficulty or barely managing.

almost never

Emphasizes the near absence of an event or action.

not often

A straightforward and common way to express infrequency.

once in a while

Indicates an occasional occurrence, less rare than "rarely".

on occasion

Similar to "once in a while", suggesting something happens sporadically.

from time to time

Implies irregular intervals, less infrequent than "rarely".

in seldom instances

More formal and emphasizes the scarcity of the instances.

FAQs

How can I use "rarely" in a sentence?

"Rarely" is an adverb that describes how often something happens. For example, "We "rarely go to the theater"" indicates that going to the theater is not a frequent occurrence.

What words are similar to "rarely"?

Alternatives to "rarely" include "seldom", "infrequently", and "hardly ever". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "rarely ever"?

The phrase "rarely ever" is considered redundant by some, as "rarely" already implies infrequency. While it's not grammatically incorrect, using just "rarely" is often more concise and preferred in formal writing. Using "hardly ever" may be a better alternative.

What is the difference between "rarely" and "unusually"?

"Rarely" refers to how often something happens, meaning not often. "Unusually", on the other hand, describes something that is not typical or common. They are not interchangeable, as "unusually" refers to something that is exceptional.