rarely active

USAGE SUMMARY

"rarely active" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person or thing that is rarely active or does not often engage in activities. For example, "Lily is usually very active, but lately she has been rarely active."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

On the other hand, for two variables that are rarely active, even a small number of first activations may indicate strong causal relation between them if this number is larger than expected by chance.

EPJ Data Science

It is rarely active outside that area.

Independent

The girls appeared in adverts for dolls, toys focused around glamour and grooming, performance, nurturing and relationships - they were rarely active other than when dancing.

Independent

There was also a contrast in how the girls behaved when compared with the boys, as they were relatively passive and rarely active other than when dancing.

Independent

They wonder why the Public Theater hasn't engendered the kind of excitement it did during the tenure of its founder, Joseph Papp, and why the theater's stages are rarely active at the same time.

The New York Times

So, says Sturgeon, compared to the Mail's runaway success The Guardian is "clearly growing a smaller but arguably more loyal, more engaged and more focussed community of online readers (even if we assume a high number of its social media followers are lapsed or rarely active)." He goes on to draw a further important distinction.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Home and soho PCs are often joined to home networks or workgroups, but very rarely to Active Directory domains.

The Guardian - Tech

Shame is rarely an active emotion, and that may account, in part, for the movie's slight stiffness and hesitancy.

The New Yorker

Mr. Kerry, the decorated Vietnam War hero, has enlisted more than 1,000 veterans in Iowa to help his campaign, organizing a constituency that has rarely been active in the Democratic caucuses.

The New York Times

In general, environmental organizations have rarely been active in the opposition to gas pipelines, seeing them as a necessary part of a welcome equation leading to greater use of the clean-burning fuel.

The New York Times

Shame is rarely an active emotion, and that may account, in part, for the movie's slight stiffness and hesitancy; the dangers of staging a rape scene with children may have been inhibiting as well.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "rarely active", ensure the context clearly indicates what kind of activity is being referred to. This prevents ambiguity and provides a more precise understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "rarely active" as a vague descriptor. Specify the domain of activity (e.g., "rarely active in social situations" instead of simply "rarely active") to provide more meaningful information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely active" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent or frequency of activity. It indicates that something or someone engages in activity infrequently. This usage is supported by Ludwig, which provides examples in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rarely active" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe infrequent engagement in activities. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile across science, news, and business contexts. For clarity, always specify the activity. Common errors include overgeneralization, so provide context to prevent ambiguity. Related phrases include "seldom energetic" or "infrequently dynamic", offering similar but nuanced meanings. The phrase maintains a neutral register and is suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom energetic

Replaces 'active' with 'energetic' and 'rarely' with 'seldom', altering the connotation slightly to emphasize energy levels.

infrequently dynamic

Substitutes 'rarely' with 'infrequently' and 'active' with 'dynamic', offering a more formal tone.

hardly vigorous

Uses 'hardly' instead of 'rarely' and 'vigorous' in place of 'active', suggesting a lack of strength or intensity.

scarcely lively

Replaces 'rarely' with 'scarcely' and 'active' with 'lively', emphasizing a lack of enthusiasm or animation.

not often engaged

Shifts the structure to focus on engagement, replacing 'rarely active' with a more descriptive phrase.

occasionally passive

Contrasts with 'active' by using 'passive', highlighting the infrequency of engagement.

uncommonly still

Emphasizes the lack of movement or activity by using 'still' instead of 'active' and 'uncommonly' for 'rarely'.

sporadically functional

Changes the focus to functionality, implying that activity is limited and inconsistent.

negligibly operative

Presents a more technical or formal alternative, suggesting minimal operational activity.

minimally responsive

Focuses on the lack of reaction or response, indicating a low level of activity or engagement.

FAQs

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

You can use "rarely active" to describe something or someone that doesn't engage in activity often. For instance, "The volcano is "dormant" and is rarely active" or "Since her injury, she has been rarely active".

What are some synonyms for "rarely active"?

Alternatives to "rarely active" include "seldom energetic", "infrequently dynamic", or "hardly vigorous". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "rarely active" or "inactive"?

"Rarely active" suggests occasional activity, while "inactive" implies a complete lack of activity. The choice depends on whether there's any activity at all. For instance, if a device is completely switched off, it's "inactive". If it's on standby but not being used, it could be described as "rarely active".

What's the difference between "rarely active" and "not very active"?

"Rarely active" and "not very active" are similar, but "rarely active" suggests a lower frequency of activity than "not very active". "Not very active" might imply some activity but at a low level or frequency, while "rarely active" indicates that activity is infrequent.