seldom come across

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom come across" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is rarely encountered or found. Example: "In my years of research, I have seldom come across such a unique phenomenon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In some towns and cities you seldom come across a native tree planted in a public place.

The Guardian

But she delivers them in flawless paragraphs of elegantly crafted sentences, with a fluency you seldom come across.

The Guardian

English readers are notoriously indifferent to the poets of other cultures, and Goethe's poems, unfortunately, seldom come across vividly in translation.

The New Yorker

YOU seldom come across a film in which a father advises his son to forget about going to medical, law, or business school and, please, to concentrate instead on learning to dance Siegfried in "Swan Lake".

The New York Times

One should note that people seldom come across the antlers in the woods.

Progress in Biomaterials

(Having visited numerous countries across five continents, I seldom come across a product, which I can't find, often at better prices, back in Metro Manila).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

While Wallace Stevens is certainly a major American poet, in Mariani's pages he seldom comes across as a particularly interesting fellow, let alone a likeable or happy one.

The Washington Post

Nonetheless, for a production that has more words per minute than "The Invention of Love," "Lipstick Traces" is remarkable for seldom coming across as a talking abridged book.

The New York Times

During his long campaign, President-elect George W. Bush seldom came across as a self-reflective man, the kind who ponders his place in the world or his trajectory through history.

The New York Times

Profit warnings seldom come in ones.

The Guardian - Business

Princes, we know, seldom come to the rescue.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seldom come across", ensure the context clearly indicates what is rare or infrequent. This strengthens the phrase's impact and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom come across" in situations where something is only mildly uncommon; reserve it for instances of genuine rarity to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom come across" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the infrequency of an event or encounter. It's used to express that something is not often experienced or found, similar to how Ludwig AI highlights its usage in various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seldom come across" is a verbal phrase used to describe something that is infrequent or rare. Ludwig AI analysis reveals that it is grammatically correct and most frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts. While not as common as other alternatives like "rarely encounter", it effectively communicates the idea of infrequency in formal and neutral settings. When using this phrase, ensure the context makes the rarity clear to enhance its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely encounter

Emphasizes the infrequency of an encounter, similar to "seldom come across" but with a slightly stronger connotation of rarity.

infrequently find

Focuses on the low frequency of finding something, akin to "seldom come across" in terms of discovery.

hardly ever see

Highlights the low probability of visually encountering something, related to the rarity implied by "seldom come across".

seldom witness

Focuses on the lack of occasions when one views an event, akin to "seldom come across" in terms of perception.

scarcely meet

Indicates that meetings or encounters are rare, mirroring the sense of infrequency in "seldom come across".

rarely cross paths with

Emphasizes that there's a low chance of two things meeting or encountering one another, keeping with the rarity suggested by "seldom come across".

hardly experience

Highlights the low probability of undergoing or feeling something is, related to the rarity implied by "seldom come across".

uncommonly discover

Stresses the unusual nature of a discovery, aligning with the infrequent nature suggested by "seldom come across".

infrequently stumble upon

Highlights how rare and unexpected the discovery of something is, similar to the sense of "seldom come across".

unusually find oneself facing

Emphasizes how unique and unexpected the discovery of something is, similar to the sense of "seldom come across".

FAQs

How can I use "seldom come across" in a sentence?

You can use "seldom come across" to indicate that something is rare or not often encountered. For example, "You "seldom come across" a film in which a father advises his son to forget about medical school and concentrate on learning to dance Siegfried in 'Swan Lake'".

What can I say instead of "seldom come across"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely encounter", "infrequently find", or "hardly ever see" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "seldom come across" or "rarely come across"?

Both "seldom come across" and "rarely come across" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably, although "rarely come across" might be slightly more common in modern usage.

What's the difference between "seldom come across" and "never come across"?

"Seldom come across" indicates something is infrequent but possible, while "never come across" implies something has not happened at all. The former suggests rarity, while the latter suggests absence.