seldom any

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom any" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs infrequently or rarely, often in a negative context. Example: "In this small town, there are seldom any new restaurants opening up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

But there's seldom any jetlag to this poet's lines.

The Guardian - Books

Falwell has attacked "the liberal churches," but seldom any local church or local minister by name.

The New Yorker

LeeSaar's dances always require unwavering attention and are seldom any fun.

The New York Times - Arts

There are seldom any witnesses, and fires can be started with commonplace items.

The New York Times

Where I have seen AIDS at work before, in east, west and central Africa, there is seldom any such progress.

The Economist

As the somewhat portly Dr Johnson liked to remind his admirers, "Seldom any splendid story is wholly true".

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

Terrorism isn't a scourge we Americans alone endure, and it's seldom about any one thing, or any two things.

The New York Times

Now we seldom see any. . . .

The New Yorker

Obama seldom does any of these things.

The New Yorker

There has seldom been any open talk about military dangers.

The Economist

In popularity polls, they seldom cite any businessmen.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seldom any" to emphasize the lack of something rather than simply stating its absence. For example, "There is seldom any doubt about her intentions" adds more weight than "There is no doubt".

Common error

Avoid using "seldom any" in informal contexts. It can sound stilted or overly formal. Opt for more casual alternatives like "hardly any" or "almost never" in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom any" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating a low frequency or quantity. It modifies a noun or noun phrase to express that something is rare or almost nonexistent. Ludwig confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seldom any" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote infrequency or scarcity. It is commonly found in news, encyclopedic, and scientific sources, lending itself to a neutral register. While correct, it can be considered more formal than alternatives like "hardly any" or "rarely any". According to Ludwig, the phrase is correctly used in a variety of contexts to express that something is rare or almost nonexistent, which is consistent with the examples found.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly any

Indicates a very small amount or number, similar to "seldom any" but potentially implying a smaller quantity.

rarely any

Emphasizes the infrequency of something, closely mirroring the meaning of "seldom any".

scarcely any

Suggests that there is barely enough of something, similar to "seldom any" in implying a lack.

infrequently any

Highlights the lack of frequency, directly comparable to "seldom any".

almost no

Expresses a near absence of something, conveying a similar sense of scarcity as "seldom any".

virtually none

Indicates that something is practically nonexistent, similar to "seldom any" in terms of rarity.

hardly ever

Focuses on the infrequency of an event or action, comparable to "seldom any" when describing occurrences.

almost never

Indicates that something happens very rarely, providing a similar meaning to "seldom any".

not often

Indicates a lack of frequency, a less formal way of saying "seldom any".

on rare occasions

Highlights the exceptional nature of an event, suggesting infrequency in line with "seldom any".

FAQs

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

Use "seldom any" to indicate that something happens rarely or that very little of something exists. For instance, "There is "seldom any" traffic on this road at night" means there's usually very little traffic.

What can I say instead of "seldom any"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly any", "rarely any", or "almost no" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "seldom any" or "rarely some"?

"Seldom any" is the correct and more common phrase. "Rarely some" is not a standard construction and would sound unnatural to most English speakers.

What's the difference between "seldom any" and "hardly any"?

While both indicate a small quantity or infrequent occurrence, ""seldom any"" emphasizes the infrequency, whereas "hardly any" focuses on the small quantity or amount.