seldom occurs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom occurs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or situation that happens infrequently or rarely. Example: "In this region, heavy snowfall seldom occurs, making it a rare sight for the locals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

— in a way that seldom occurs in Mr. Wheeldon's work.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet stasis seldom occurs; some flow of movement is almost always in evidence.

The New York Times - Arts

While they can indeed form large, edible tubers, that seldom occurs in the small containers in which they are usually grown.

The New York Times

Tintin passes increasing portions of his life with an unmarried seaman, yet it seldom occurs to us to question their rapport.

The New Yorker

When the Andruzzis were introduced, they heard the soft, warm applause that seldom occurs at a sports event, an applause of thanks and admiration rather than a roar for a touchdown.

The New York Times - Sports

It seldom occurs to us that our lack of romanticism - our much-vaunted 'realism' - may look as weird in the future as Barbara Cartland's romantic effusions do to us.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

Cholera and malaria seldom occur.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But New York's sophisticated voters know that these third-party attacks seldom occur by coincidence.

The New York Times

(Such improvements, for the record, seldom occur when small shows transfer to larger houses).

The New York Times

Forest fires seldom occur in tropical rain forests or in the deciduous broad-leaved forests of the temperate zones.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The first one is that it has seldom occurred to hospital clinicians that, if I am being treated by two or more hospitals, that what the other hospital is doing to me has any relevance to it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "seldom occurs", consider the tone and register of your writing. It is suitable for formal and semi-formal contexts. In informal writing, consider using "rarely happens" or "hardly ever happens".

Common error

Avoid using "seldom occurs" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler alternatives like "rarely happens" or "doesn't happen often" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom occurs" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the frequency with which an action or event takes place, specifically denoting that the action happens infrequently. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seldom occurs" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe infrequent events. Ludwig AI confirms it as valid, highlighting its presence across diverse fields, with a notable concentration in scientific and news contexts. While "seldom occurs" is suitable for formal writing, simpler alternatives like "rarely happens" are more appropriate for informal settings. The phrase enjoys substantial support from authoritative sources, solidifying its status as a reliable expression for conveying rarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely happens

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely" and "occurs" with "happens", resulting in a more common but semantically similar expression.

infrequently happens

Substitutes "seldom" with "infrequently", which has a more formal tone.

scarcely happens

Replaces "seldom" with "scarcely", emphasizing the rarity of the event.

hardly ever happens

Uses a more colloquial phrasing to indicate the infrequency of an event.

rarely takes place

Replaces "occurs" with "takes place", providing a slightly more formal alternative.

uncommonly transpires

Uses more formal vocabulary like "uncommonly" and "transpires" for a more elevated tone.

is a rare occurrence

Transforms the phrase into a nominal structure, focusing on the event as a "rare occurrence".

is not a frequent event

Employs a negative construction to express the infrequency.

doesn't often happen

Uses a more conversational tone to convey the same meaning.

is unusual

Simplifies the phrase to a more concise adjective describing the event.

FAQs

What does "seldom occurs" mean?

"Seldom occurs" means something happens rarely or infrequently. It's a more formal way of saying something "rarely happens".

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

Example: "While breakthroughs in this field are possible, they seldom occurs without years of dedicated research."

What are some alternatives to "seldom occurs"?

You can use alternatives such as "rarely happens", "infrequently happens", or "hardly ever happens" depending on the context.

Is "seldom occurs" more formal than "rarely happens"?

Yes, "seldom occurs" is generally considered more formal than "rarely happens". It's more common in academic or professional writing.