reasonably rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reasonably rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is uncommon or infrequent, but not extremely so. Example: "While sightings of the rare bird are reasonably rare, they do occur in this region during migration season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

However, since they are reasonably rare they don't tend to be cheap.

The Guardian - Travel

Highlights include early (and reasonably rare) tracks such as "Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You", "New York Mining Disaster 1941" and "Morning of My Life".

Independent

Although established titles like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto regularly sell over 20m copies each, a user-base of just under 10m is viewed as impressive for a fresh IP – it's still reasonably rare for console games to sell in the tens of millions.

The Guardian - Tech

Corruption is reasonably rare.

TechCrunch

This gives the impression, confirmed by Kuhn's examples, that revolutions are particularly significant and reasonably rare episodes in the history of science.

SEP

In contrast, proponents of the medical model of birth argue that while serious complications during labor are reasonably rare, they can occur quickly and their effects can be catastrophic, and it is simply good risk reasoning to have the expertise and resources of high-tech medicine available during labor.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

I was using his Inuit lore against him, forcing him to respond reasonably, a rare sign of weakness on his part.

The New Yorker

We examine the first hypothesis by investigating whether sufficient sampling of wild orangutans has occurred that we might reasonably expect that rare events such as infanticide would have been observed if they occur.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

Full-service, reasonably priced supermarkets are rare in impoverished neighborhoods, and the ones that are there tend to carry more processed foods than seasonal fruits and vegetables.

The New York Times

However, the carrier group is reasonably sized for a rare genetic event and genetically comparable since all the 16p11.2 deletion carriers have the same breakpoints and no other pathogenic copy-number variants.

Nature

This method can provide reasonably accurate results for rare or unique genotypes and for clones that are broadly distributed.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the frequency of events or occurrences, use "reasonably rare" to indicate that they are not commonplace but still happen. For instance, "While severe side effects are reasonably rare, it's important to be aware of them."

Common error

Avoid using "reasonably rare" when the event or object is genuinely extremely rare. Overstating the degree of rarity can mislead your audience. If something is truly exceptional, use stronger terms like "exceptionally rare" or "unique".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reasonably rare" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying the adjective "rare" to indicate a degree of infrequency that is not extreme. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, showcasing its descriptive capability across different sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reasonably rare" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something that is uncommon but not entirely absent. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms that it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. When using "reasonably rare", it's important to ensure that you are accurately representing the degree of infrequency and not overstating the rarity. Consider related phrases like "fairly uncommon" or "moderately infrequent" for alternative phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fairly uncommon

Emphasizes that something is more uncommon than common, but not exceptionally so. Slightly less formal.

Moderately infrequent

Highlights the lack of frequency in a balanced way, suitable for formal contexts.

Somewhat scarce

Focuses on the limited availability of something, suggesting it is not abundant.

Relatively unusual

Indicates that something is not typical or ordinary to a certain degree.

Comparatively uncommon

Suggests that something is less common when compared to something else.

Slightly exceptional

Implies something deviates from the norm to a minor extent.

Not particularly frequent

States that something does not occur often, using a more verbose and emphatic structure.

Passably unique

Describes something as adequately unique, without being extremely so.

Reasonably atypical

Highlights that something differs from the typical to a moderate degree.

Decently individual

Emphasizes a good amount of individuality or distinctiveness.

FAQs

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

You can use "reasonably rare" to describe something that is uncommon but not extremely so. For example: "While sightings of the rare bird are reasonably rare, they do occur in this region during migration season."

What are some alternatives to "reasonably rare"?

You can use alternatives like "fairly uncommon", "moderately infrequent", or "somewhat scarce", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "reasonably rare" a formal or informal expression?

"Reasonably rare" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "moderately infrequent" for a more elevated tone.

What's the difference between "reasonably rare" and "rare"?

"Rare" indicates that something is uncommon. "Reasonably rare" implies a degree of infrequency that is less extreme than "rare". It suggests the event or object is not commonplace, but not extraordinarily unusual either.