seldom

USAGE SUMMARY

'seldom' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to mean that something happens or is true only rarely or on rare occasions. For example: "I seldom go to the movies these days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cruz sought to tie Obama's record overseas to the likely Democratic nominee, who was seldom mentioned in the day's speeches.

The Guardian

Young British artists invited abroad very seldom face the difficulties faced by young artists who live outside the EU and are invited to perform here.

The Guardian

Third, the referendum energised Scottish voters in a manner seldom seen in British politics.

The Guardian

He came but seldom, and merely as an observer, to the meetings in Pimodan House [Hôtel Lauzun], where our club met..."....

The Guardian - Books

And for his press box contemporaries Hopcraft offered this scathing observation: "It is curious that football reporters very seldom use the same language in talking about the game that they employ in writing about it.

The Guardian

Her rare jabs at GOP presidential contenders on Wednesday were met with both laughter and applause from an audience of roughly 200 people, who also responded enthusiastically to another issue seldom raised by Clinton on the campaign trail: her age.

The Guardian

There are some excellent pictures in this show – moving, funny, beautiful, weird - even if he seldom quite manages to capture the moment in the way the late great Don McPhee of the Guardian so often did.

The Guardian

If any money came his way, and it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm-wine, called round his neighbours and made merry.

The Guardian - Books

This very seldom happened - only before show days - and once after he was bathed for Rydal show he just took off and disappeared.

The Guardian

Seldom without a genuine smile, she even had real conversations with real people; mainly because the Lib Dem spin doctors aren't as effective at keeping her away from them as the Conservatives and the Labour.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was seldom a story in Dutch news that so gripped and for so long dominated the public sphere as the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken, the president of Heineken International.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seldom" to add a touch of formality to your writing. It's particularly effective in formal reports or academic papers when you want to express that something happens infrequently without sounding overly casual.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom" in very informal conversation or writing. Alternatives like "rarely" or "hardly ever" might be more appropriate and sound less stilted in casual settings.

How to use

Learn how to use "seldom" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The adverb "seldom" modifies verbs to indicate that an action occurs infrequently. It acts as an adverb of frequency, similar to "rarely" or "infrequently", indicating how often something happens. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seldom" is a grammatically sound adverb that indicates infrequency. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to formal contexts such as news, business, and academic writing where its slightly elevated tone is most appropriate. Alternatives like "rarely" or "infrequently" offer similar meanings, while "hardly ever" is more colloquial. "Seldom" adds a touch of formality to your language, but avoid overusing it in casual conversation to prevent sounding stilted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely

Indicates infrequency, similar to "seldom", but can sometimes imply something is precious or valued.

infrequently

A more formal synonym for "seldom", emphasizing the lack of frequency.

hardly ever

A more colloquial way to express "seldom", suggesting something almost never happens.

almost never

Similar to "hardly ever", this phrase highlights the very low probability of an event.

scarcely

Emphasizes that something happens only just or barely, carrying a slightly stronger connotation than "seldom".

on rare occasions

A more descriptive phrase indicating that something happens only a few times.

not often

A straightforward alternative to "seldom", directly stating the infrequency.

once in a blue moon

An idiomatic expression for something that happens very rarely.

in a few instances

Highlights that something happens only in a limited number of cases.

from time to time

Suggests occasional occurrence, less infrequent than "seldom" but still not common.

FAQs

How can I use "seldom" in a sentence?

You can use "seldom" to indicate that something happens infrequently. For example, "They "seldom" visit us" means they don't visit us often.

What are some alternatives to "seldom"?

Alternatives to "seldom" include "rarely", "infrequently", or "hardly ever". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is it better to use "seldom" or "rarely"?

"Seldom" and "rarely" are largely interchangeable, but "seldom" carries a slightly more formal tone. Choose based on the overall style of your writing.

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

"Seldom" indicates that something happens infrequently, while "sometimes" indicates that it happens occasionally. "Seldom" implies a lower frequency than "sometimes".