scarce traffic

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarce traffic" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is very little or limited movement of vehicles or people on a road or in a particular area. Example: Due to the heavy snowfall, there was scarce traffic on the highway, causing a delay in our commute to work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Glistening umbrellas cascaded downhill toward the scarce traffic flow of Titova Street.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

There was no other option, given the scarce human traffic.

The New York Times - Sports

Those statistics get at an evolving suburban truth: As more and more Hispanics move into the suburbs, they risk injury or death because they walk and ride bicycles in a place where the roads are often dark, the sidewalks scarce and traffic menacing.

The New York Times

Due to the inefficient utilization of scarce radio resources, M2M traffic is expected to degrade the performance of traditional mobile traffic.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Traffic is scarce.

The New Yorker

Lebanese Army soldiers were heavily deployed in and around the city, and traffic was scarce.

The New York Times

From there, it was on to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, where so many people showed up that the school had to station guards outside to direct traffic to scarce parking spaces.

The New York Times

Data on trafficking was scarce before the earthquake, with many cases going unreported, and there is no comprehensive recording system in place.

The Guardian

Traffic signals allocate scarce capacity at roadway junctions and, as such, influence the level of service both locally and in the corresponding traffic network.

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

Other concerns include summer traffic, storm evacuation and scarce groundwater.

The New York Times

The couple began to notice that bicycle parking seemed to be scarce in an area where bike traffic seemed to be on the rise.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarce traffic" to describe situations where the expected or normal level of traffic is significantly lower than usual. This phrase is particularly effective when highlighting the unexpected absence of vehicles or people.

Common error

Avoid using "scarce traffic" when you mean "traffic scare". "Scarce traffic" describes low traffic volume, while "traffic scare" refers to an incident or situation causing alarm related to traffic safety or congestion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarce traffic" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "scarce" modifies the noun "traffic". It describes the state of having a limited or insufficient amount of traffic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarce traffic" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's used to describe situations with a low volume of vehicles or people moving in a particular area. While the phrase appears more frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, its overall usage is uncommon. For alternative phrasing, consider "limited traffic", "light traffic", or "sparse traffic". Remember to avoid confusing "scarce traffic" with similar-sounding phrases, such as "traffic scare".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

limited traffic

Indicates a restriction or low level of traffic flow.

light traffic

Emphasizes the reduced density of vehicles.

thin traffic

Suggests a dispersed and infrequent pattern of vehicles.

sparse traffic

Highlights the scattered and infrequent nature of traffic.

infrequent traffic

Focuses on the rare occurrence of traffic.

minimal traffic

Stresses the very small amount of traffic.

negligible traffic

Implies that the traffic is so small it's almost not worth considering.

reduced traffic

Highlights a decrease in the usual traffic volume.

meager traffic

Emphasizes the scantiness of traffic.

virtually no traffic

Strongly suggests the almost complete absence of traffic.

FAQs

How can I use "scarce traffic" in a sentence?

You can use "scarce traffic" to describe situations where there is very little movement of vehicles or people. For example: "Due to the holiday, there was "scarce traffic" on the roads."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "scarce traffic"?

Alternatives include "limited traffic", "light traffic", or "sparse traffic", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scarce traffic" grammatically correct?

Yes, "scarce traffic" is a grammatically correct phrase. "Scarce" is an adjective modifying the noun "traffic".

When is it appropriate to use "scarce traffic" instead of "heavy traffic"?

"Scarce traffic" is used when there is a low volume of traffic, the opposite of "heavy traffic", which describes a high volume of vehicles and congestion.