rather frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs with a certain degree of regularity or often, but not excessively. Example: "The meetings have become rather frequent, occurring every week instead of once a month."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And that seems to be a rather frequent occurrence.

The Economist

With rather frequent easterly winds, areas near North Sea coasts were cloudier.

The Guardian

"Initially, episodes were rather frequent; I could be sick six or eight times within two months.

The New York Times - Health

Rhodium is initially worked hot, but cold-working can be done later with rather frequent annealing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A cognitive task that is rather frequent in our daily life is the visual search for hidden objects.

Nature

A wide-shallow beam is a rather frequent structure in residential buildings in Southern Europe (as in Italy and in Spain).

Composites Part B: Engineering

The occurrence of workplace violence is rather frequent within the nursing profession, with well-known consequences on the psychological health of victims.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

The study rises from the need to face the practical and rather frequent problem of cracks patterns in tunnels, occurring during the ring installation and in the first following phases of the TBM advance.

Engineering Structures

Cognitive impairment is rather frequent in our hospital-based cohort.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

This suggestion may also be supported by the rather frequent occurrence of aura symptoms in CH sufferers.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Landslide dams are rather frequent in Italy, a country characterized by a broad climatic, geological and morphological variability.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather frequent" when you want to indicate that something occurs noticeably often, but without implying it is overwhelmingly common. It strikes a balance between 'frequent' and less common alternatives.

Common error

While "rather frequent" is generally acceptable, overuse in highly formal or academic writing can make your tone sound less authoritative. Opt for more precise language that quantifies frequency when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather frequent" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "frequent". It denotes that something occurs more than occasionally, but not to the point of being constant or ubiquitous. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

61%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather frequent" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe events or occurrences that happen noticeably often but are not necessarily ubiquitous. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, mainly science and news media. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and choose more precise language when highly formal writing is required. Semantically related alternatives include "quite common", "fairly common", and "relatively frequent". The phrase serves the purpose of informing the reader or listener about the frequency of something, positioning it on a scale between rare and very common. When deciding on which phrase to use among all possible alternatives, consider that rather frequent sounds a bit more formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite common

Indicates a slightly higher degree of frequency and general usage compared to "rather frequent".

fairly common

Similar in meaning, but with a slightly less formal tone than "rather frequent".

relatively frequent

Emphasizes the comparison of frequency against a specific baseline or expectation.

moderately common

Suggests a medium level of frequency, implying occurrences are neither rare nor highly prevalent.

somewhat frequent

Indicates a less pronounced degree of frequency than "rather frequent".

reasonably common

Similar to 'fairly common' in denoting a good level of frequency, although might imply slightly higher expectation.

occurrent

While sharing the notion of something happening, this word is more technical and less suitable for everyday conversation.

customary

Focuses more on the habitual or traditional nature of the occurrence, rather than just its frequency.

habitual

Focuses on the habitual nature of the occurrence, mostly suitable for behavior.

recurring

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the occurrences, suggesting they happen again and again.

FAQs

How can I use "rather frequent" in a sentence?

You can use "rather frequent" to describe events or occurrences that happen noticeably often, such as, "The meetings have become "rather frequent", occurring every week instead of once a month."

What are some alternatives to "rather frequent"?

Alternatives to "rather frequent" include "quite common", "fairly common", or "relatively frequent", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "rather frequent" formal or informal?

"Rather frequent" is generally considered neutral in formality. It can be used in both professional and informal contexts, although more precise language might be preferred in highly formal writing.

What's the difference between "rather frequent" and "frequent"?

"Rather frequent" suggests a degree of frequency that is less intense than simply "frequent". It implies that something happens often, but not necessarily all the time or as a matter of course. It's similar to saying "somewhat frequent".