seldom observed

USAGE SUMMARY

"seldom observed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is not often seen. For example: "The phenomenon of a total solar eclipse is seldom observed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There are a growing number of studies reporting the observation of purine-pyrimidine base-pairs that are seldom observed in unmodified nucleic acids because they entail the loss of energetically favorable interactions or require energetically costly base ionization or tautomerization.

Duke University

Otters are seldom observed in the wild on Long Island.

The New York Times

This is seldom observed in carbon nanotubes.

Carbon

This behaviour is seldom observed in polymer mixtures.

Polymer

Mantle rocks are seldom observed at the surface because they are too dense to rise, but occasionally a glimpse is presented by their inclusion in volcanic materials.

Britannica

Many autophagosomes and autolysosomes were observed in wild-type cells, but they were seldom observed in ULK1/2-KO/D cells (Supplementary Figure 4b).

Nature

The phenomenon of early shunt thrombosis with TIPS created with bare stent TIPS, attributed to biliary fistulae, is seldom observed in patients with TIPS endografts.

Techniques in Vascular and Interventional Radiology

On a wide array of motorcycles, ridden along the same test route over the course of several years, I've seldom observed fuel economy of more than 50 m.p.g.

The New York Times

The extent of our greed precludes mentioning them all, but almost every one confirmed the seemingly obvious, yet seldom observed, culinary truth that there's almost nothing better than wonderful basic ingredients cooked simply and accurately.

The Guardian - Travel

Microcracking other than debonding of glass beads is seldom observed, and furthermore, debonding is found to occur only on and near the fracture surface.

Polymer

We show that the E. coli can be engineered to produce the seldom observed nucleotide sugars UDP 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucuronic acid (UDP 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucuronic-deoxy-xylose (UDP 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-glucuronic

Analytical Biochemistry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seldom observed" to add a touch of formality when describing something that is not frequently seen or noticed in scientific or formal writing. For example, "Such behavior is "seldom observed" in controlled experiments".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "seldom observed" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Opt for alternatives like "rarely seen" or "not often noticed" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom observed" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a past participle, typically describing a phenomenon, behavior, or object that is not frequently encountered. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in formal English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

12%

Academia

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seldom observed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, particularly in formal and scientific writing. As verified by Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the idea of something being rare or infrequently noticed. While appropriate for academic and scientific contexts, it may sound overly formal in casual conversation, where alternatives like "rarely seen" might be more suitable. Remember to use it when you need to precisely describe the infrequency of an observation, and consider your audience to ensure the tone matches your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely seen

Focuses on the rarity of the visual occurrence.

seldom witnessed

Emphasizes the infrequency of being a witness to something.

infrequently noted

Emphasizes the lack of frequent recording or acknowledgement.

not often noticed

Highlights the lack of regular attention or awareness.

rarely encountered

Shifts the focus to the infrequency of encountering something.

scarcely detected

Focuses on the difficulty or infrequency of detection.

hardly ever observed

Uses a more informal tone to indicate rare observation.

infrequently found

Highlights the lack of commonality in finding something.

uncommonly perceived

Stresses the unusual nature of the perception.

sporadically seen

Indicates that observations occur at irregular intervals.

FAQs

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

Use "seldom observed" to describe something that is not frequently seen or noticed. For example, "The migratory patterns of this bird species are "seldom observed" due to their remote habitat".

What are some alternatives to "seldom observed"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely seen", "infrequently noted", or "not often noticed" depending on the context.

Is "seldom observed" more formal than "rarely seen"?

Yes, "seldom observed" is generally considered more formal than "rarely seen". Choose the phrase that best fits the tone of your writing.

In what contexts is "seldom observed" most appropriate?

"Seldom observed" is particularly appropriate in scientific, academic, and other formal writing contexts where precise and somewhat elevated language is preferred.