seldom successful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seldom successful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that rarely achieves success or is infrequently effective. Example: "Despite their efforts, the team's attempts to innovate were seldom successful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Downloads in those countries were seldom successful, the report found.

The New York Times

The insanity argument is now seldom successful, legal experts said.

The New York Times

Even in the best of circumstances, they are seldom successful.

The New York Times

Adapted at first from frescoes and later from textiles, this style is seldom successful, however.

Britannica

Hybrids like this are seldom successful, because they do neither job terribly well.

The Guardian

Primary closure of the perineum at the time of abdominoperineal resection (APR) is seldom successful.

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

However, Woods has seldom been successful at the Ryder Cup, the biennial competition that since 1979 has pitted the United States against Europe.

The Washington Post

Attempts to adapt her fiction to the footlights — the stream of consciousness, internalized narratives, a handkerchief's tragic drop on a summer day — have seldom been successful.

The New York Times

A continuation of a book that has proved very popular seldom is successful, and we cannot say that we think Alice's last adventures by any means equal to her previous ones.

The Guardian

The probability of a good match obviously increases with the phylogenetic distribution of homologs; in particular, this approach will seldom be successful for genes that are restricted to primates.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Intensive investigation rarely identifies a primary site, and if successful, seldom alters treatment (Stewart et al, 1979).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "seldom successful", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being described as rarely achieving success. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "seldom successful" when you mean "never successful" or "occasionally successful". "Seldom" implies a low frequency, but not an absence or a mere possibility. Choose words that accurately reflect the intended frequency to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seldom successful" primarily functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that the subject in question infrequently attains success. Ludwig AI confirms its consistent use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seldom successful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes something which rarely achieves success. Ludwig AI confirms its applicability across various domains, particularly in News & Media, Science and Academia. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the context and ensure that "seldom" accurately reflects the intended frequency, distinguishing it from terms like "never" or "occasionally". Alternatives such as "rarely achieves success" or "infrequently successful" can be used to add variety to your writing while retaining a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely achieves success

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely" while maintaining the same core meaning of infrequent success.

infrequently successful

Substitutes "seldom" with "infrequently", keeping the core idea of rare success.

rarely culminates in success

Emphasizes the process and its infrequent positive conclusion.

hardly ever succeeds

Uses a more emphatic "hardly ever" in place of "seldom".

not usually fruitful

Replaces "successful" with "fruitful" to highlight the lack of positive outcomes.

tends to not be successful

Adds an element of inclination or tendency towards a lack of success.

doesn't often work out

Uses a more informal and conversational tone to express a similar concept.

only occasionally works

Focuses on the occasional instances of success, emphasizing their rarity.

unlikely to prosper

Shifts the focus to future potential, suggesting a low chance of flourishing.

meets with failure more often than not

Highlights the prevalence of failure over success, using a longer and more descriptive phrase.

FAQs

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

You can use "seldom successful" to describe something that rarely achieves its desired outcome. For example, "The team's attempts to innovate were "seldom successful", leading to a stagnation in product development."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "seldom successful"?

Alternatives to "seldom successful" include "rarely achieves success", "infrequently successful", or "doesn't often work out", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it better to use "seldom successful" or "rarely successful"?

"Seldom successful" and "rarely successful" are largely interchangeable. The choice depends on personal preference and the overall tone of your writing. Both convey a similar meaning of infrequent success.

What's the difference between "seldom successful" and "occasionally successful"?

"Seldom successful" implies that something is not usually successful, whereas "occasionally successful" suggests that it sometimes works, though not frequently. The difference lies in the degree of infrequency.