rather rare

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather rare" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is not common, but is not necessarily extremely unique or hard to find. For example, "These days, finding original art in this style is rather rare."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Winning a free ride is rather rare.

The New York Times

Until now, recalls of state lawmakers were rather rare here.

The New York Times

He's always been good at sport – rather rare in our world'.

The Guardian - Film

Moreover, it's rather rare for a woman (allegedly) to rape a man.

The Guardian

"It's rather rare when important artifacts are in private hands and do come up for sale".

The New York Times

The general practitioner, however, is becoming rather rare in some developed countries.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That makes his an interesting voice if still a rather rare one in Brussels.

The Economist

Except maybe for constructors: it follows that it's a rather rare event to get one published.

The New York Times

But Pinewood is a rather rare beast: a trophy asset that actually makes money.

Independent

Her Waterbury rally, in the city's decrepit downtown, was a rather rare public speaking event.

The New York Times

Interdisciplinary approaches integrating different points of view are rather rare.

Procedia CIRP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather rare" to describe situations or items that are uncommon but not necessarily exceptional or extremely hard to find. This phrase adds a touch of understatement compared to using "very rare".

Common error

Avoid using "rather rare" when describing something truly exceptional or almost non-existent. In such cases, stronger terms like "extremely rare" or "unique" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather rare" functions as an adjectival modifier, typically used to qualify nouns by indicating that they are not commonly encountered. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

52%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather rare" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to describe something that is uncommon but not exceptionally scarce. Ludwig AI confirms this and provides numerous real-world examples. It functions as an adjectival modifier with a neutral tone, making it suitable for various contexts, especially in scientific and news-related content. While "rather rare" effectively conveys infrequency, it's important not to use it when describing something truly unique, where terms like "extremely rare" would be more fitting. Using "rather rare" correctly will add nuance and precision to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat uncommon

Indicates a slightly less common occurrence than "rather rare".

relatively infrequent

Emphasizes the lack of frequency from a comparative perspective.

fairly unusual

Highlights the departure from what is considered typical or expected.

not particularly common

Directly states the lack of commonality without strong emphasis.

moderately scarce

Focuses on the limited availability or supply of something.

somewhat limited

Highlights restrictions in quantity or extent.

infrequent to some degree

Suggests a noticeable absence of frequent occurrence.

scarcely commonplace

Implies that something is far from being an everyday occurrence.

hardly typical

Indicates that something deviates from the norm or standard.

distinctly less frequent

Emphasizes a clear and noticeable reduction in frequency.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather rare" to describe something that is uncommon but not exceedingly so. For example, "Finding a truly original idea these days is "rather rare"".

What are some alternatives to "rather rare"?

Alternatives include "somewhat uncommon", "relatively infrequent", or "fairly unusual" depending on the context.

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

"Rather rare" implies something is uncommon, while "very rare" suggests it's much harder to find or experience. The better choice depends on the degree of rarity you want to convey.

What's the difference between "rather rare" and "somewhat rare"?

The difference is subtle, but "rather rare" often suggests a slightly higher degree of infrequency than "somewhat rare". Both indicate that something is not common.