rarely available

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rarely available" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is not easily obtainable. For example: The special edition laptop was rarely available, so when it went on sale I had to buy it right away.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

K-Car limos are rarely available.

The New York Times

RARELY AVAILABLE corner unit in circular building.

The New Yorker

Specimens are rarely available for pathologic study.

Nature

Franchise-altering NBA players are rarely available at the deadline.

The Guardian - Sport

Suitable alternatives are rarely available in the private rented sector.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, when the tourists arrived, these activities were rarely available.

The Guardian

Such assessments are rarely available for remote and inaccessible areas.

Ecological Indicators

Until recently Russia was rarely available for in-depth study.

Yale University

Basic life and property insurance is rarely available.

The Economist

While its general structure is well known, complete expressions are rarely available for specific problems.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Unfortunately, detailed bathymetry is rarely available and simplifying assumptions regarding the bathymetry have to be made.

Journal of Hydrology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rarely available", consider the specific context to determine if a more precise term might be appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "funding is rarely available", you could specify why it's scarce, such as "funding is rarely available due to budget cuts".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the rarity of something. Saying "never available" when it's actually "rarely available" can undermine your credibility. Ensure your language accurately reflects the actual frequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely available" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that the noun is not easily obtainable or accessed. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

31%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rarely available" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase that communicates scarcity or limited accessibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for a wide range of contexts, including academic, scientific, news, and business writing. When using this phrase, consider the specific context to ensure it accurately reflects the degree of scarcity. Alternative phrases like "scarce to find" or "hardly accessible" can be used to add variety to your writing. Be careful not to overstate the scarcity; ensure your language aligns with the actual frequency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarce to find

Replaces "available" with "to find" and "rarely" with "scarce", emphasizing the difficulty in locating something.

hardly accessible

Substitutes "available" with "accessible" and "rarely" with "hardly", focusing on the difficulty in accessing something.

infrequently obtainable

Replaces "rarely" with "infrequently" and "available" with "obtainable", indicating that something is not often acquired.

seldom encountered

Changes the focus to encountering something, using "seldom" instead of "rarely" and "encountered" instead of "available".

not easily found

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the difficulty in finding something.

in short supply

Emphasizes the limited quantity or amount of something.

few and far between

Highlights the infrequency of something's occurrence or availability.

difficult to come by

Indicates that something is challenging to obtain or acquire.

uncommon to see

Shifts the focus to visual observation, suggesting that something is not commonly seen.

not often present

Indicates that something is not frequently present or existing.

FAQs

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

You can use "rarely available" to describe something that is not easily obtained or found. For example, "Genuine antique maps in excellent condition are "rarely available" on the open market."

What's a good alternative to saying "rarely available"?

Instead of "rarely available", consider using phrases like "scarce to find", "hardly accessible", or "infrequently obtainable", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "unrarely available"?

No, "unrarely available" is not grammatically correct. The correct way to express the opposite of "rarely available" is to use phrases like "frequently available" or "commonly available".

What is the difference between "rarely available" and "scarcely available"?

"Rarely available" and "scarcely available" are very similar in meaning. Both indicate that something is not easily obtained. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or stylistic considerations.