rarely occurs

USAGE SUMMARY

'rarely occurs' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe something that happens only sometimes or very infrequently, e.g. "This type of weather rarely occurs in our city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This rarely occurs.

The New York Times - Magazine

But that rarely occurs.

The New York Times

Good teaching rarely occurs in isolation.

The Guardian

Such strategic use of language rarely occurs by chance.

The New York Times

But political luck rarely occurs in a vacuum.

The Economist

This type of penny-pinching rarely occurs in Washington.

The New York Times

Some anthropologists believe cannibalism is just a slogan to demonize enemies and rarely occurs in practice.

The New York Times

Although death rarely occurs, if ever, onlookers have summoned priests to give last rites.

The New York Times - Health

In fact, kissing is so widespread that it rarely occurs to us to interrogate it.

The New Yorker

Not because I am uninterested in a civil exchange, but polite discourse rarely occurs.

The Guardian - Sport

But that's not the so-called standard of care, and it rarely occurs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rarely occurs", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or situation is uncommon. For instance, "Spontaneous combustion rarely occurs under normal atmospheric conditions" clarifies the infrequency of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "rarely occurs" when the event is practically nonexistent. "Halley's Comet rarely occurs" is technically correct, but misleading, since it occurs predictably every 75-76 years. Instead, use "occurs infrequently" or "occurs at long intervals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely occurs" functions as an adverbial modifier to indicate the infrequency of an action or event. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it describes how often something happens, emphasizing its uncommon nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rarely occurs" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote infrequent events. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate across various contexts, from scientific discussions to news reports. While alternatives like "seldom happens" or "infrequently arises" exist, "rarely occurs" maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse audiences. When using this phrase, remember to clearly define the event in question and avoid exaggerating its rarity. Considering its widespread use in reputable sources, integrating "rarely occurs" into your writing will ensure clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom happens

Replaces "occurs" with "happens" and "rarely" with "seldom", both signifying low frequency.

it almost never occurs

Replaces "rarely" with "almost never" providing a stronger emphasis on the infrequency of the event.

uncommonly takes place

Substitutes "rarely" with "uncommonly" and "occurs" with "takes place", altering the wording while maintaining the core meaning.

infrequently arises

Changes "rarely" to "infrequently" and "occurs" to "arises", providing a more formal alternative.

scarcely comes about

Replaces "rarely" with "scarcely" and "occurs" with "comes about", resulting in a more descriptive alternative.

hardly ever transpires

Substitutes "rarely" with "hardly ever" and "occurs" with "transpires", offering a more emphatic alternative.

it is unusual for this to happen

Expresses rarity through a different sentence structure, focusing on the unusual nature of an event.

this is not a common occurrence

Rephrases the concept to emphasize the uncommon nature of an event rather than its infrequency.

it's exceptional for that to arise

Implies rarity by highlighting the exceptional or unusual nature of an event.

such a thing is uncommon

Focuses on the uncommon nature of an event using a more concise and direct structure.

FAQs

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

You can use "rarely occurs" to describe an event or situation that happens infrequently. For example, "This type of error "rarely occurs" in well-maintained systems".

What are some alternatives to "rarely occurs"?

Alternatives include "seldom happens", "uncommonly takes place", or "infrequently arises", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "rarely occur" instead of "rarely occurs"?

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "rarely occurs" with singular subjects and "rarely occur" with plural subjects. For example, "This event rarely occurs", but "These events rarely occur".

What's the difference between "rarely occurs" and "never occurs"?

"Rarely occurs" indicates that something happens infrequently, while "never occurs" means it does not happen at all. "Mistakes "rarely occurs"" suggests they happen sometimes, but "Mistakes never occur" implies they are impossible.