rarely smiling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rarely smiling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who does not smile often, conveying a sense of infrequency in their smiling behavior. Example: "Despite the cheerful atmosphere, she was rarely smiling, which made her seem distant from the festivities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She is very solemn, rarely smiling, her voice switching from huskiness to a treacle-like richness between breaths.

Independent

Meanwhile Hunt, always immaculate in a white shirt and dark suit, rarely smiling, stayed increasingly in the background.

The Guardian - Business

Mr. Close has always eschewed expression — people are rarely smiling in the portraits — and, unlike Andy Warhol, he has not focused on pop-culture celebrities.

The New York Times

On Tuesday, at Joe's Pub, she performed a lot of those albums' songs in a state of alert tension, chopping out riffs on the low strings of her guitar, rarely smiling or moving as she sang in a precise near-whisper.

The New York Times

A thin man in his late 30s with a perfectly trimmed beard, he spoke quietly, without haste, rarely smiling or gesturing with his hands.

Vice

She stayed in her corner quietly, rarely crying but also rarely smiling.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They rarely smile.

The New York Times

He rarely smiles.

The New York Times

It rarely smiles.

The New York Times - Arts

But Morgan rarely smiled.

The New York Times

With the tour group, he rarely smiles.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character or person, use "rarely smiling" to subtly convey their personality, mood, or emotional state. This can be more effective than explicitly stating they are unhappy or reserved.

Common error

Avoid constantly stating a character is "rarely smiling" during dialogue. Show their mood through actions, tone, and word choice instead of relying on repetitive descriptions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rarely smiling" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the frequency of the action of smiling. It adds descriptive detail to a subject, indicating that the act of smiling occurs infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples of its use in describing people's demeanors.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rarely smiling" is a grammatically sound and effective way to describe someone who does not smile often, conveying a sense of infrequency in their smiling behavior. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to add descriptive detail, suggesting seriousness or unhappiness. It's most commonly found in news and media, with neutral formality. For alternative expressions, you could use "seldom smiling" or "infrequently smiling". When writing, use "rarely smiling" to subtly hint at a character's emotional state, but avoid overuse in dialogue descriptions to keep the narrative engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seldom smiling

Synonym, replacing "rarely" with "seldom" maintains the meaning of infrequent smiling.

infrequently smiling

Synonym, "infrequently" provides a more formal alternative to "rarely".

hardly ever smiling

Rephrasing with "hardly ever" emphasizes the infrequency of smiling.

almost never smiling

"Almost never" expresses a slightly stronger sense of absence compared to "rarely".

not often smiling

A more straightforward way of expressing the infrequency of smiling.

unsmiling

A single-word adjective indicating a lack of a smile; broader than "rarely smiling".

without a smile

Describes the absence of a smile, focusing on the state rather than the frequency.

rarely showing joy

Shifts the focus from the physical act of smiling to the emotional expression of joy.

with a somber expression

Indicates a serious or sad facial expression instead of smiling.

serious faced

Describes a consistently serious or stern facial expression.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone is "rarely smiling"?

Saying someone is "rarely smiling" means they don't smile often. It suggests they might be serious, unhappy, or reserved. The phrase highlights the infrequency of a typical expression of happiness.

What are some alternatives to "rarely smiling"?

You can use alternatives like "seldom smiling", "infrequently smiling", or "hardly ever smiling" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "rarely smiling"?

Yes, "rarely smiling" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adverb modifying the verb 'smiling', indicating the frequency of the action.

How does "rarely smiling" differ from "never smiling"?

"Rarely smiling" implies that the person does smile sometimes, though not often. "Never smiling" indicates that the person does not smile at all. Therefore "never smiling" shows a stronger sense of absence of smile.