relatively infrequent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively infrequent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs less often compared to other things or in a general context. Example: "The occurrence of this phenomenon is relatively infrequent, making it difficult to study."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As a result, collisions between molecules are relatively infrequent.

Harvard University

They drum (drums are a relatively infrequent ingredient in flamenco), play guitar, clap and sing.

The New York Times - Arts

Inter-caste marriage is still relatively infrequent and marriage between certain castes is taboo".

The Guardian

Though they tend to be relatively infrequent, they require time for in-depth discussion.

Harvard Business Review

But that's relatively infrequent for the average American, and little stimulus for the economy.

The New York Times

They said they expect penalties to be relatively infrequent and ejections to be extremely rare.

The Washington Post

Until about the 11th century, manifestations of anti-Semitism were relatively infrequent.

Britannica

Pediatric tumors are relatively infrequent but are often associated with significant lethality and lifelong morbidity.

Stanford University

And while new markets were created (i.e. the desktop PC market), they were relatively infrequent.

University of California, Berkeley

Coarse scale vegetation patterns where related to upper slope positions and relatively infrequent high severity fires.

Forest Ecology and Management

Complications associated with C1 lateral mass screw placement are relatively infrequent.

The Spine Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relatively infrequent", ensure that the context provides a clear baseline for comparison. For example, specify what the occurrence is infrequent relative to.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively infrequent" when the occurrence is actually nonexistent or extremely rare. The 'relatively' suggests there is still some level of occurrence, however small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively infrequent" functions as an adverbial modifier describing the degree to which something occurs. It qualifies an adjective, in this case "infrequent", indicating that something happens less often compared to something else. Ludwig shows examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

26%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "relatively infrequent" is a versatile tool for indicating that something occurs less often than expected or compared to a specific benchmark. Ludwig highlights its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse fields like science, news, and academia. While not extremely rare, its application suggests a noteworthy deviation from typical frequency. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by providing context for the comparison. According to Ludwig, "relatively infrequent" is a nuanced way to describe occurrences that are not common but not exceptionally rare, either.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

relatively occasional

Changes "infrequent" to "occasional", suggesting a similar meaning with a slightly different nuance.

relatively uncommon

Replaces "infrequent" with "uncommon", keeping a similar level of rarity.

reasonably infrequent

Replaces "relatively" with "reasonably", maintaining a similar level of emphasis.

fairly infrequent

Replaces "relatively" with "fairly", maintaining a similar level of emphasis.

relatively unusual

Substitutes "infrequent" with "unusual", implying something is not typical.

relatively episodic

Uses "episodic" to describe occurrences that happen at intervals, not regularly.

relatively recurrent

While "recurrent" implies repetition, the "relatively" softens it to suggest less frequent repetition.

relatively sparse

Focuses on the distribution, suggesting occurrences are thinly scattered.

relatively few

Changes the focus to the quantity of occurrences rather than the frequency.

relatively scant

Indicates that the occurrences are limited or insufficient.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively infrequent" in a sentence?

You can use "relatively infrequent" to describe events or occurrences that do not happen often. For example, "Major storms are "relatively infrequent" in this region".

What are some alternatives to "relatively infrequent"?

Some alternatives to "relatively infrequent" include "relatively uncommon", "fairly rare", or "somewhat uncommon", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "relatively infrequent" or "rare"?

While both terms indicate something doesn't happen often, "relatively infrequent" suggests a comparison to something else. "Rare" simply indicates uncommonness in general. Choose the term that best fits the context.

What does "relatively" mean in the context of "relatively infrequent"?

In the phrase "relatively infrequent", "relatively" means in relation to something else. It indicates that something is not happening often when compared to a specific standard or other occurrences.