should be rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is expected to occur infrequently or is not common. Example: "In a healthy diet, sugary snacks should be rare to maintain overall well-being."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It should be rare.

The Economist

Discounts to external customers should be rare.

Yale University

He said that experiences like Mr. Navarro's should be rare.

The New York Times

Justice Department officials say clemency should be rare.

The New York Times

In her 2008 run for the presidency, Democrat Hillary Clinton insisted abortion should be rare.

The Washington Post

"Clarifications should be rare and must be approved by the editor-in-chief, or managing editors".

The New York Times

They suggest that planets should be rare, but recent observations indicate that they are not.

The Economist

Mr. Dellinger agreed that exceptions to the usual duty to defend statutes should be rare.

The New York Times

Sear about 25 seconds, turn and sear again about 15 seconds; fillets should be rare in center.

The New York Times - Food

Since their inception, the guidelines have stated that sentences should be uniform and that departures should be "rare occurrences".

The New York Times

Such an exception to the usual procedural barriers should be "rare" and confined to an "extraordinary case," the court said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain a formal tone, use "should be rare" when discussing policies, guidelines, or expected outcomes in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "should be rare" so frequently that it loses its impact. Overuse can dilute the emphasis on the importance of keeping something infrequent. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be rare" functions as an adverbial modifier, expressing an expectation about the frequency of an event or the state of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The modal verb "should" indicates advisability or expectation, while "rare" describes the desired infrequency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

40%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be rare" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote an expected infrequency of an event or condition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is versatile across a range of topics and registers. Predominantly featured in News & Media and Scientific publications, this phrase serves to set expectations for limited occurrences, whether concerning policy, health, or technical domains. To ensure clarity and impact, it's best used with a defined context and avoidance of overuse. Consider enriching your writing with related alternatives when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to be uncommon

Replaces "should" with "ought to" and "rare" with "uncommon", slightly altering the tone and formality.

must be infrequent

Substitutes "should" with "must" and "rare" with "infrequent", conveying a stronger sense of obligation or necessity.

needs to be scarce

Changes "should" to "needs to" and "rare" to "scarce", highlighting the necessity for something to be limited.

is expected to be unusual

Replaces "should be" with "is expected to be" and "rare" with "unusual", emphasizing anticipation rather than prescription.

is ideally limited

Emphasizes the desirability of keeping something limited rather than just its infrequency.

ideally occurs infrequently

Combines the ideas of "ideally" and "infrequently" to suggest both a desired outcome and a low frequency.

is best when limited

Focuses on the positive impact of limiting something.

is better when uncommon

Highlights that something is more desirable when it's not commonplace.

is preferable when scarce

Emphasizes that scarcity makes something more desirable or advantageous.

is desirably infrequent

Combines the concepts of desirability and infrequency into a single modifier.

FAQs

How can I use "should be rare" in a sentence?

You can use "should be rare" to express that something is not expected to happen often. For example, "Technical malfunctions should be rare with proper maintenance".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "should be rare"?

Consider using alternatives like "ought to be uncommon", "must be infrequent", or "needs to be scarce" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "should be rare"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Should" is a modal verb indicating expectation or recommendation, and "rare" is an adjective describing something not commonly found or occurring. Together, they form a valid expression.

In what contexts is "should be rare" most appropriately used?

"Should be rare" is fitting in contexts where you want to suggest that something's occurrence needs to be limited or is ideally infrequent, such as in policy discussions, medical advice, or technical guidelines.