rarely occurring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rarely occurring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe events or phenomena that happen infrequently or not often. Example: "The phenomenon of bioluminescence in certain species of fungi is a rarely occurring event in nature."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such operations for rarely occurring events are not possible with multisphere device.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

High-average winds, gustiness, or a rarely occurring peak gust can make a location be perceived as windy.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Ratbi I, Borcciadi R, Regragui A, Ravazzolo R, Sefiani A. Rarely occurring mutation of ACVR1 gene in Moroccan patient with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Nature

Most cases of herniation are caused by dural defects in the ventral or ventrolateral thoracic spine, rarely occurring through the dorsal dura.

The Spine Journal

Participants performed a lexical decision task by making word/non-word judgments, with rarely occurring prospective memory target words requiring a pre-specified manual response.

Neuropsychologia

MMN is computed as a difference signal between the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by repeated standard tones and rarely occurring deviant tones.

Clinical Neurophysiology

In any case, it is notable that readings below 40 — a rarely occurring indication of a sharp decline in orders — are now being seen in the new-orders indexes for the euro zone, Britain, Australia and Japan.

The New York Times

Also, when any rarely occurring characteristic that is increasing across the nation uniformly is studied state by state, California can be expected to show a statistically significant trend first, simply because of its population size.

The New York Times

A rarely used treatment might be necessary to treat a rarely occurring disease that could strike anyone; the state cannot prohibit a person from obtaining treatment simply by pointing out that most people do not need it.

The New York Times

This method was tested on environmental samples spiked, in a wide range of total cell mass, with the rarely occurring diatom Neidium affine together with a highly species-specific oligonucleotide designed on the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene.

Journal of Microbiological Methods

▪ Rarely occurring phytoplankton.

Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rarely occurring", consider the audience and context. In scientific writing, be precise about the rarity by providing statistical data if available. In general writing, ensure the phrase aligns with the overall tone and doesn't overstate or understate the infrequency.

Common error

Avoid using "rarely occurring" hyperbolically. Ensure the event or phenomenon is genuinely infrequent. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely occurring" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes the frequency of an event or phenomenon, indicating that it happens infrequently. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's commonly used in diverse contexts to specify how often something takes place.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

79%

News & Media

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rarely occurring" is a grammatically sound and versatile adjective phrase used to describe infrequent events or phenomena. As validated by Ludwig, its usage spans across scientific, news, and general contexts. While it functions primarily to provide information about frequency, its register tends towards neutral to formal, making it suitable for a variety of writing styles. When using this phrase, be mindful of overstating rarity and consider the context to ensure the most appropriate and impactful word choice. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and widespread use of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infrequent

Focuses on the lack of frequency.

uncommon

Emphasizes the unusual nature of the occurrence.

scarce

Highlights the limited availability or presence.

seldom seen

Refers to the infrequency of observation.

occasional

Suggests that it happens from time to time, but not regularly.

sporadic

Indicates occurrences at irregular intervals.

exceptional

Highlights that the occurrence is an exception to the norm.

unusual

Stresses the deviation from what is typical or expected.

infrequently observed

Focuses on the low frequency of witnessing something.

not often

A simple way of stating the lack of frequency.

FAQs

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

You can use "rarely occurring" to describe events or phenomena that don't happen often. For example: "The phenomenon of bioluminescence in certain species of fungi is a rarely occurring event in nature."

What can I say instead of "rarely occurring"?

You can use alternatives like "infrequent", "uncommon", or "scarce" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "seldom occurring" instead of "rarely occurring"?

Yes, "seldom occurring" is a valid alternative. The word "seldom" is a synonym for rarely, making the two phrases interchangeable in most contexts.

What's the difference between "rarely occurring" and "unusual"?

"Rarely occurring" emphasizes the infrequency of an event, while "unusual" highlights its deviation from the norm. An event can be rarely occurring without being particularly unusual, and vice versa.