rarely accurate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rarely accurate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is infrequently correct or precise, often in contexts discussing data, information, or predictions. Example: "The forecasts provided by the model are rarely accurate, leading to significant discrepancies in planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Since production data are rarely accurate, no schedule can be perfect.

Harvard Business Review

"Paul Watson can be inflammatory in his depictions of us, which are rarely accurate," said a spokesman, Michael Crocker.

The New York Times

Which is rarely accurate because most of the people who use these drugs do them in a cyclically habitual fashion.

The New Yorker

The convenient sound bites into which I store my sense of self are rarely accurate — whose are?

The New York Times

This book, too, tells the story of a childhood (an annoying thing about the term "graphic novel" is that it is so rarely accurate: many of the best ones are memoirs).

The Guardian - Books

An app allows prospective riders to keep an eye on the progress of the buses, which are outfitted with G.P.S. trackers one caveat is that cell service is so spotty in the Hamptons that the app is rarely accurate.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

While a common experience, exact statistics are rarely considered accurate due to the prevalence of underreporting by nurses.

BMC Nursing

And even in the best of times, the bureau's estimates are rarely that accurate.

The New York Times

Except that not everyone does and we rarely see accurate statistics about how many or what proportion of people actually do.

The Guardian

While most schools rarely publish accurate enrollment numbers, assignments from Japanese companies, especially in custom-designed programs, are generally on the rise.

The New York Times

States rarely have accurate measures of how many jobs such programs create, but they are discovering that many such programs fail to live up to their billing.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rarely accurate" consider if quantifying the inaccuracy could strengthen the statement. For example, "data is rarely accurate, with only 20% of values being correct."

Common error

Avoid using "rarely accurate" when the information is almost always wrong. More emphatic phrases like "almost never accurate" or "highly inaccurate" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely accurate" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective, describing the degree to which something lacks accuracy. It specifies that something is not usually correct. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rarely accurate" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to convey that something is not often correct or precise. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and appropriateness. It's commonly found in News & Media, Science and Business contexts. When using this phrase, consider that it suggests a lack of reliability. Alternatives like "seldom correct" or "infrequently precise" can be used to add nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infrequently precise

Changes the adverb to "infrequently" and replaces the adjective with "precise".

seldom correct

Uses "seldom" instead of "rarely" and "correct" instead of "accurate".

not often accurate

Rephrases using "not often" instead of "rarely".

uncommonly exact

Replaces "rarely" with "uncommonly" and "accurate" with "exact".

occasionally inaccurate

Uses the antonym "inaccurate" and modifies the frequency with "occasionally".

sporadically true

Indicates that truthfulness is sporadic rather than consistent.

mostly incorrect

Suggests a greater degree of inaccuracy.

frequently wrong

Uses "frequently" with "wrong" implying the opposite of accurate.

often imprecise

Replace with "often" with "imprecise" which mean "not precise".

not generally reliable

Highlights lack of reliability

FAQs

How can I use "rarely accurate" in a sentence?

You can use "rarely accurate" to describe something that is infrequently correct or precise. For instance, "The weather forecasts are "rarely accurate", so don't rely on them for planning your outdoor activities."

What's the difference between "rarely accurate" and "inaccurate"?

"Inaccurate" means incorrect or untrue, while "rarely accurate" suggests something is sometimes correct but often not. "Inaccurate" is a stronger, more definitive statement of wrongness.

What can I say instead of "rarely accurate"?

Alternatives include "seldom correct", "infrequently precise", or "not often accurate". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it acceptable to use "rarely accurate" in formal writing?

Yes, "rarely accurate" is suitable for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to express that something is not consistently correct. Ensure the context supports the intended meaning.