rather frequently

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'rather frequently' is correct and usable in written English and can be used to describe something that happens often, but not necessarily all the time.
For example, you could say, "He visits his grandmother rather frequently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also, rather frequently, they were dead.

The Guardian

"Universities should do more" is a phrase heard rather frequently in the corridors of power.

The Guardian

We would have racist things spray-painted on the building rather frequently, and occasionally had bomb threats".

The New York Times

Since the great disaster of 2009, Sanford has taken to mentioning "this journey called life" rather frequently.

The New York Times

Where a system is periodically perturbed, processes can pass back and forth between disequilibrium and steady-state conditions rather frequently.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She had friends, but they were neither rich nor powerful, and she herself, as the product of a hard middle-class society where the expression "Everyone has his own problems" strikes the ear rather frequently, probably did not expect much.

The New Yorker

Although experts continue to debate the extent of the risk, particularly the risks linked to long plane trips, others have documented that the clots occur rather frequently, even though they do not often cause symptoms that require medical care.

The New York Times - Health

Grebes feeding on invertebrates containing much chitin regurgitate pellets rather frequently; fish eaters tend to maintain masses of feathers in the main portion of the stomach, presumably to hold fish bones until they are digested.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The AP shunts are reportedly rather frequently found in hemangiomas as well, especially in that with rapid enhancement [27].

Surgical Case Reports

MOH is a rather frequently occurring secondary headache condition caused by overuse of analgesics and acute migraine medication.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It follows that consumers must update their information about prices rather frequently if they want to continue paying the least amount possible.

SERIEs

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context of your writing; while acceptable in most formal and informal settings, assess if a more precise adverb of frequency might be more effective.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "rather frequently" can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "often" or "pretty often" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather frequently" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, indicating the degree to which an action or event occurs. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct. The numerous examples on Ludwig show its versatile usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

43%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather frequently" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase used to describe events or actions that occur with notable regularity but not constantly. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate for use across a variety of contexts, from scientific writing to news reporting. While "rather frequently" enjoys broad acceptance, it's advisable to consider simpler alternatives like "often" in more informal settings. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its common usage in expressing frequency with a touch of nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite often

Uses "often" instead of "frequently", resulting in a more direct and common alternative.

relatively often

Replaces "rather" with "relatively", emphasizing a comparison against a general standard.

fairly often

Substitutes "rather" with "fairly", indicating a slightly lower degree of frequency.

somewhat often

Uses "somewhat" instead of "rather", suggesting a moderate level of frequency.

reasonably frequently

Replaces "rather" with "reasonably", providing a more formal tone.

with some frequency

Changes the structure to a prepositional phrase, altering the emphasis slightly.

on a regular basis

Offers a more emphatic and structured alternative, highlighting the regularity of the occurrence.

at regular intervals

Similar to "on a regular basis" but emphasizes the spacing between occurrences.

not infrequently

Uses a double negative to express a positive frequency, adding a touch of formality.

in many instances

Focuses on the number of occurrences rather than the rate, offering a different perspective.

FAQs

What does "rather frequently" mean?

The phrase "rather frequently" means that something happens fairly often or with some regularity. It indicates a higher frequency than "occasionally" but less than "very often".

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

You can use "rather frequently" to describe how often an action is performed or an event occurs. For example, "He visits his family "rather frequently"" or "The system requires updates "rather frequently"".

What are some alternatives to "rather frequently"?

Alternatives to "rather frequently" include "quite often", "relatively often", "fairly often", or "somewhat often". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired nuance.

Is it better to say "rather frequently" or "very frequently"?

"Rather frequently" suggests a moderate degree of frequency, while "very frequently" indicates a high degree. Choose the phrase that more accurately reflects how often the action or event occurs. "Very frequently" implies it happens much more often than "rather frequently".