seldom heard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom heard" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is infrequently or rarely heard, often in the context of sounds, opinions, or information. Example: "The song was a beautiful melody, but it was seldom heard on the radio."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

Officers seldom heard him complain.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, well-composed and structured synagogue music is seldom heard.

The New York Times

Such wonderful repertory so seldom heard up to snuff!

The New York Times - Arts

He gave a voice to those too seldom heard.

The Guardian

Kodak's bosses in Rochester seldom heard much criticism of the firm, she says.

The Economist

Thunder is seldom heard at distances greater than about 20 km (12 miles).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

They began with Stravinsky's seldom-heard "Pastorale" for violin and piano from 1933.

The New York Times - Arts

The concert includes Prokofiev's seldom-heard "A Summer Day" and a witty early symphony by Mozart.

The New York Times - Arts

Clearly Mr. Gilbert has a special fondness for this seldom-heard symphony.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Nagano and the orchestra gave an austerely beautiful account of this seldom-heard score.

The New York Times - Arts

This rewarding program also includes four seldom-heard duets from the "Clavierubung".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seldom heard" to emphasize the rarity or infrequency of something being audible. It can add a sense of uniqueness or lost opportunity to your writing.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "seldom heard" can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "rarely heard" or "not often heard" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom heard" functions as an adverbial modifier + verb phrase. It modifies a verb to indicate the infrequency of an action, typically relating to something being audible. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples where "seldom heard" describes how infrequently a sound, voice, or opinion is perceived.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seldom heard" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the infrequency with which something is heard. Ludwig confirms the phrase is "correct" and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, with secondary usage in Formal & Business and Scientific sources. While "seldom heard" is acceptable in most settings, simpler alternatives like "rarely heard" might be more suitable for informal conversations. The phrase is employed to highlight the unique or neglected nature of a sound, voice, or perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely audible

Replaces "seldom heard" with a direct synonym emphasizing the infrequency of being heard.

infrequently heard

Substitutes "seldom" with "infrequently", highlighting the low frequency of auditory perception.

scarcely heard

Emphasizes the minimal extent to which something is heard.

rarely perceived

Shifts focus from the act of hearing to the broader concept of perception.

hardly ever heard

Adds emphasis to the infrequency using "hardly ever".

not often heard

Uses a more direct and simple wording to express the infrequent occurrence of hearing something.

uncommonly heard

Highlights the unusual nature of hearing something.

voices that are rarely heard

Focuses specifically on voices instead of the general action of hearing.

seldom perceived aurally

Adds the adverb "aurally" to specifically relate to the sense of hearing.

rarely encountered in speech

Shifts the context to spoken language and its rare occurrence.

FAQs

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

You can use "seldom heard" to describe something that is not often heard or is rare to hear. For example, "The opera 'Palestrina' is usually described as a masterpiece, but it is "seldom heard"."

What can I say instead of "seldom heard"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely audible", "infrequently heard", or "scarcely heard" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "rarely heard" instead of "seldom heard"?

Yes, "rarely audible" is a suitable substitute for "seldom heard". Both phrases mean that something is not heard often.

What's the difference between "seldom heard" and "never heard"?

"Seldom heard" means something is heard infrequently or rarely, while "never heard" means something has not been heard at all. "Seldom heard" implies there's a possibility of hearing it, whereas "never heard" suggests it's completely unheard of.