rarely has a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rarely has a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to introduce a statement about something that does not often occur or is uncommon. Example: "Rarely has a team shown such dedication and commitment to their project as this one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Failure rarely has a single cause.

The New York Times - Sports

Rarely has a Justice proved so disappointing.

The New Yorker

RARELY has a politician risen so fast.

The Economist

Rarely has a decision provoked such controversy.

The Economist

Rarely has a car been so successful.

Independent

And the public rarely has a say.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Hamman rarely has a sleepless night.

The New York Times

Because Crocker rarely has a hot hand.

The New York Times

But rarely has a figure rendered satire so superfluous.

The New York Times

Rarely has a wedding announcement made for so much shtick.

The New Yorker

And rarely has a solo play made such fundamental sense.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rarely has a", ensure the subject of the sentence is significant enough to warrant the emphasis. Overuse can diminish its impact.

Common error

Avoid using "rarely has a" in contexts where the situation is genuinely common. This can create a misleading impression and weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely has a" functions as an introductory element that inverts the typical subject-verb order for emphasis. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is used to highlight the exceptional nature of the statement that follows.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rarely has a" is a versatile tool for emphasizing the uncommon or exceptional nature of a statement. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in reputable sources, especially in the News & Media sector. While it's suitable for formal writing, it's important to avoid overuse to maintain its impact. Related phrases like "seldom has a" or "scarcely has a" can provide variety, but "rarely has a" remains a strong choice for drawing attention to noteworthy events or qualities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom has there been a

Replaces "rarely" with "seldom" and includes "there been" for emphasis.

scarcely has there been a

Employs "scarcely" to convey a similar meaning with an added sense of limitation and includes "there been" for emphasis.

infrequently has there been a

Uses "infrequently" instead of "rarely" and includes "there been" for emphasis.

almost never has there been a

Substitutes "rarely" with "almost never" and adds "there been" for additional emphasis.

hardly ever has there been a

Replaces "rarely" with the more colloquial "hardly ever" and adds "there been" for emphasis.

one rarely encounters a

Uses a more formal tone and shifts the focus to the act of encountering something.

it is uncommon to see a

Shifts the sentence structure to emphasize the uncommon nature of the event.

it is unusual to find a

Emphasizes the rarity by focusing on the unusual nature of finding something.

such instances are uncommon

Simplifies the phrase to highlight the uncommon nature of the instances.

instances of this are few

Highlights the scarcity of the instances.

FAQs

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

The phrase "rarely has a" is used to emphasize the infrequency of an event or situation. For example: "Rarely has a film managed to say so much while saying so little."

What phrases are similar to "rarely has a"?

Similar phrases include "seldom has a", "scarcely has a", or "hardly ever has a". Each conveys a sense of infrequency or rarity.

Is it correct to say "rarely a has" instead of "rarely has a"?

No, the correct phrasing is "rarely has a". The word order "rarely a has" is grammatically incorrect and not idiomatic in English.

Can "rarely has a" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "rarely has a" is appropriate for formal writing. It's frequently found in news articles, academic papers, and other professional contexts.