scarcely ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely ever" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means "almost never," or "very rarely." Example: We scarcely ever have time to get together with our friends anymore.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet off the field, he scarcely ever raises a headline.

The New York Times - Sports

The other side of the House scarcely ever applauded.

The New Yorker

Even the Justice Department, he pointed out, scarcely ever objects to the changes submitted for preclearance.

The New Yorker

In China police rarely change their minds and defendants are scarcely ever found innocent.

The Economist

The third floor, once the biggest dance floor in Westchester County, is scarcely ever used.

The New York Times

She scarcely ever gave interviews and defiantly shunned the celebrity circus.

The New York Times - Books

In my mind's eye, I scarcely ever lost sight of it.

The New York Times

But he scarcely ever seems to make an assist, to part with the ball and give a teammate a chance.

The New York Times - Sports

He had his two-way bullhorn slung around his neck, but he scarcely ever bothered to use it.

The New Yorker

Yet a population that lived through the September 11th attacks can scarcely ever confuse remote likelihoods with complete impossibilities.

The New Yorker

Ulysses S. Grant groused, "I have been the subject of abuse and slander scarcely ever equaled in political history".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scarcely ever", ensure the context clearly establishes what is considered 'normal' or 'expected' frequency. This provides a stronger contrast and emphasizes the rarity of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely ever" when the event truly never happens. "Never" is more appropriate for absolute absence, while "scarcely ever" implies occasional occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely ever" functions as an adverbial of frequency, modifying a verb to indicate how often an action occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and examples show it describing actions that happen almost never.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely ever" functions as an adverbial phrase that indicates a very low frequency of occurrence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically sound and suitable for various writing styles, though slightly more formal alternatives exist. The analysis of numerous examples highlights its consistent usage in reputable news sources and scientific literature. When using "scarcely ever", writers should be mindful to ensure the context accurately reflects the rarity of the described event. Overall, it effectively conveys the meaning of “almost never” but can be easily replaced by alternative phrases such as "rarely", "hardly ever", or "almost never".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost never

Emphasizes the near absence of an event or action.

hardly ever

Suggests a slightly higher frequency than "scarcely ever" but still indicates rarity.

rarely

A single-word synonym indicating infrequent occurrence.

seldom

Similar to 'rarely' but may imply a more formal tone.

infrequently

A more formal adverb indicating a lack of frequency.

not often

A straightforward way to express that something doesn't happen frequently.

almost never happens

Expresses that the event almost does not happen

very rarely

Emphasizes the rarity of an event through intensification.

on rare occasions

Highlights the exceptional nature of the few times something occurs.

once in a blue moon

An idiomatic expression indicating extreme infrequency.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely ever" in a sentence?

Use "scarcely ever" to indicate that something happens very rarely. For example, "We "scarcely ever" go to the cinema because it's too expensive."

What's the difference between ""scarcely ever"" and "hardly ever"?

While both indicate infrequent occurrences, ""scarcely ever"" suggests a slightly lower frequency or a more surprising rarity than "hardly ever". They are often interchangeable, but ""scarcely ever"" can add a bit more emphasis.

What can I say instead of ""scarcely ever""?

You can use alternatives like "almost never", "rarely", or "seldom" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to say ""scarcely ever""?

Yes, the phrase ""scarcely ever"" is grammatically correct and widely used in English to indicate something happens very infrequently.