seldom a day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom a day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something happens infrequently or rarely on a daily basis. Example: "Seldom a day goes by without me thinking about my childhood memories."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

There is seldom a day that I don't feel it happening still.

Vice

Press box colleagues would recall that there was seldom a day that he would not be overheard in telephone contact with the shop, discussing how a looming liability might be laid off.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She works seven days a week, seldom taking a day off, and is usually on duty from 9 30 A.M. until 11 P.M.

The New Yorker

Seldom does a day pass without his campaign promoting a new endorsement.

The New Yorker

Seldom can a day in which only four wickets fell and 206 runs were scored have been as raucously received.

The Guardian - Sport

• Seldom does a day go by that there isn't fresh evidence as to why approval ratings of Congress are so low.

The New York Times

(Since 1924, the year Calvin Coolidge was elected president, he has seldom missed a day of work, and has amassed 12 years of unused vacation time).

The New York Times

Seldom has a day passed in recent weeks that Mr. Obama has not huddled with his national security team, telephoned a foreign leader or met with members of Congress about the issue.

The New York Times

Mr. Fall, whose store sold hats, T-shirts and belts, seldom took a day off, telling friends recently that times were tough and he was struggling to make the store's $3,000 monthly rent.

The New York Times

After my first virgin venture up the narrow stairway into Dave's world, there was seldom a summer day I wouldn't ride my bike to the store and spend hours sifting through their endless rectangular white cardboard boxes of comics.

Vice

He seldom misses a Sunday service.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing daily routines or habits, consider alternatives like "rarely" or "almost never" if "seldom a day" feels too formal for your context.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom a day" in informal settings or casual conversations, as it can sound stilted. Opt for more common alternatives like "not often" or "rarely" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom a day" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the infrequency of an action or event. This phrase is used to express that something happens only rarely on a daily basis. As Ludwig AI says, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seldom a day" is a grammatically correct way to express that something happens infrequently on a daily basis. While recognized as correct by Ludwig AI, it is slightly more formal and less common than alternatives like "rarely a day". Predominantly used in News & Media and Science contexts, it conveys a sense of rarity and should be used judiciously to avoid sounding stilted. When aiming for a more casual tone, consider using alternatives like "not often" or "rarely". If you want to emphasize extreme rareness try to use the idiom "once in a blue moon". Overall, "seldom a day" is a useful phrase when employed in the right setting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely a day

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely", indicating infrequency.

hardly ever a day

Uses "hardly ever" instead of "seldom", emphasizing the rarity.

almost never a day

Emphasizes the near absence of the occurrence.

scarcely a day

Substitutes "seldom" with "scarcely", suggesting a minimal frequency.

infrequently a day

Replaces "seldom" with the more formal "infrequently".

not often a day

Uses a more direct and common way to express the lack of frequency.

uncommonly a day

Substitutes "seldom" with "uncommonly", suggesting unusual frequency.

once in a blue moon a day

Idiomatic expression emphasizing extreme rarity.

on rare occasions a day

Rephrases to focus on the exceptional nature of the event.

hardly a day passes

Shifts the focus to the passing of days to emphasize that the event is rare.

FAQs

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

You can use "seldom a day" to describe something that rarely happens on a daily basis. For example: "Seldom a day goes by without me thinking of her", or "She works seven days a week, "seldom taking a day off"".

What are some alternatives to saying "seldom a day"?

Alternatives include phrases like "rarely a day", "hardly ever a day", or "almost never a day", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "seldom a day goes by"?

Yes, "seldom a day goes by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction to indicate that something infrequently occurs each day.

What is the difference between "seldom a day" and "rarely a day"?

While both phrases express infrequency, "seldom a day" might carry a slightly more formal tone compared to the more common ""rarely a day"". Their meanings are largely interchangeable.