relatively seldom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively seldom" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an occurrence that happens infrequently, but with a comparison to something else that may happen even less often. Example: "While I travel frequently for work, I relatively seldom take vacations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

In general, women are relatively seldom killed by strangers.

The New York Times

Yachts are relatively seldom exposed to dangerous weather or conditions.

The New York Times - Travel

His serious operas -- "Guillaume Tell," "La Donna del Lago" -- are done relatively seldom.

The New York Times

PUHL: No, I saw Thoms relatively seldom, often not for months, as he could hardly come to my office.

Yale University

Treasury officials insist they have criticized Japanese currency intervention, though they acknowledge that Mr. O'Neill's remarks have been mild and relatively seldom.

The New York Times

Equally, the mosaic at Woodchester in Gloucestershire remains in a very fine state because it is so relatively seldom put on show.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

The bay is relatively shallow, seldom reaching depths greater than 164 feet (50 m).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Most lakes are relatively young, seldom more than 20,000 years old, but Baikal is thought to be more than 25 million years old.

The New York Times

These special districts, known as IFDs, are a relatively obscure, seldom used, option for local governments to pay for projects such as redevelopment, transportation and maintenance.

Los Angeles Times

The second, and current, attempt aims at using the relatively obscure and seldom deployed Defense Production Act to subsidize coal and nuclear plants on the grounds that is necessary to maintain national security, but the legal standing has yet to be proven.

Forbes

Their venom is relatively weak and is seldom fatal to humans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relatively seldom", ensure the comparison is clear. What is it seldom in relation to? Providing this context strengthens the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "relatively seldom" when you simply mean "seldom". The "relatively" implies a comparison, so ensure there's a clear basis for comparison in your sentence. For example, don't say "He visits relatively seldom" if you just mean he doesn't visit often. Instead, clarify: "He visits relatively seldom compared to his brother."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively seldom" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the frequency with which an action occurs. Ludwig indicates that it conveys that something happens infrequently, especially in comparison to something else. The examples show that it is commonly used to nuance statements about frequency.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively seldom" is a useful adverbial phrase for expressing measured infrequency, particularly when making a comparison. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears in a variety of reliable sources, including news media, scientific journals, and encyclopedias. When using "relatively seldom", it's important to ensure the comparative aspect is clear; specify what the action is infrequent in relation to. Alternatives include "comparatively infrequently" and "fairly rarely", but the key is to maintain the nuance of comparative infrequency. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively incorporate "relatively seldom" into their vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparatively infrequently

Replaces "relatively" with "comparatively" and "seldom" with "infrequently", emphasizing the comparative nature of the infrequency.

fairly rarely

Substitutes "relatively" with "fairly" and "seldom" with "rarely", providing a simpler and more direct expression.

somewhat uncommonly

Uses "somewhat" instead of "relatively" and "uncommonly" for "seldom", highlighting the deviation from the norm.

moderately infrequently

Replaces "relatively" with "moderately" and "seldom" with "infrequently", indicating a measured degree of infrequency.

in a relatively few instances

This alternative shifts the focus to the number of occurrences rather than the frequency, while retaining the comparative aspect.

on comparatively few occasions

Similar to the previous alternative, this emphasizes the limited number of occasions, using "comparatively" for "relatively".

not particularly often

Expresses infrequency in a more conversational tone, using negation and "particularly" to soften the frequency.

less frequently than might be expected

This longer phrase emphasizes the comparative aspect by explicitly stating the expectation of higher frequency.

to a limited extent

Expresses infrequency in general meaning and focuses more on quantity of something that's not happening often

in a minority of cases

This version focuses on the number of cases rather than frequency of action.

FAQs

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

Use "relatively seldom" to indicate that something happens infrequently compared to something else. For example, "While I travel frequently for work, I "relatively seldom" take vacations."

What can I say instead of "relatively seldom"?

You can use alternatives like "comparatively infrequently", "fairly rarely", or "somewhat uncommonly" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "relatively seldom" and "seldom"?

"Seldom" simply means rarely or infrequently. "Relatively seldom" implies a comparison; it means something happens less often than something else, or less often than expected. It adds a comparative dimension that "seldom" lacks.

Is it redundant to say "relatively seldom"?

While both words indicate infrequency, "relatively" emphasizes a comparative aspect, suggesting the infrequency is in relation to something else. It's not necessarily redundant, but ensure the comparison is clear in your sentence. If the comparison is implied, using simply "seldom" might be clearer.