slightly rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not common or is somewhat unusual, often in contexts like food or collectibles. Example: "I prefer my steak slightly rare, with just a hint of pink in the center."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

It should be slightly rare in center.

The New York Times - Food

Now that he is working with Sphere, his own trio gigs have become slightly rare.

The New York Times

Turn once and brown other side 3 minutes; fish should be slightly rare in center.

The New York Times - Food

Clement is slightly rare as an English coach, not just because of his prestigious and exotic foreign postings but because of his background.

Independent

A pristine copy of Gore Vidal's "Washington, D.C". had come in; so had a slightly rare copy of James Baldwin's "Just Above My Head"; George Saunders's new "Tenth of December" had sold out.

The New York Times

One of Lilacs slightly rare speedy moments🐮 #lovinglife #cowgirl #cowriding #nzfarming #canteringcow #farmgirl #cows #brownswiss #summerfun #outdoors #fun #riding #nz #ruralnz #nzfarmer #431am #dairynz #lifeofafarmer #dairyfarming #southland #farmlifeisthebest.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Slightly rarer, though, is the album-length cover: in other words, an album that finds one artists rerecording another band's full album.

The New Yorker

There has not been a male birth in the imperial family -- the world's oldest reigning monarchy -- in over 30 years, and the birth of a girl would be only slightly less rare, and thus almost as exciting.

The New York Times

But another cancer: neuroblastoma -- a type of cancer slightly less rare than Elliot's but for which little improvements in treatments have been seen.

Huffington Post

On the other hand, the πN:πS ratio increased only slightly when rare variants (< 1%) were included but mutations in homopolymer runs were excluded (table 1).

Genome Biology and Evolution

In the "all" contig dataset of ≥100-bp contigs, protein-coding transcripts were slightly more rare than non-coding transcripts (2,146 vs. 2,406); the pattern was reversed in the "long" dataset of ≥501-bp contigs where protein-coding transcripts were more common (1,762 vs. 1,419).

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing food, use "slightly rare" to indicate a specific level of doneness that is less cooked than medium-rare, but not completely raw. Be specific about the item you're describing, such as "steak" or "fish".

Common error

While "slightly rare" is acceptable, be mindful of your audience. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "uncommon" or "infrequent" for broader applications, reserving "slightly rare" for specific, tangible items like food or collectibles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly rare" functions primarily as a modifier, specifically an adjectival phrase. It describes a state or condition, often referring to the degree of doneness of food (as seen in Ludwig examples from The New York Times - Food and WikiHow) or the infrequency of something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly rare" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to describe something that is not quite common or a specific level of doneness for food. Ludwig AI indicates that it's often used to describe food and collectibles. While "slightly rare" is mostly used in News and Media, Science, and Wiki, remember to consider your audience and choose a more formal alternative like "somewhat uncommon" in professional contexts. For food, precise terminology like "medium-rare" is often preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat unusual

Emphasizes the deviation from the norm, focusing on the unusual aspect.

somewhat atypical

Mirrors "somewhat unusual" but with a more formal tone.

relatively uncommon

Highlights the lack of commonness in a comparative manner.

mildly uncommon

Similar to "relatively uncommon" but with a gentler modifier.

moderately infrequent

Focuses on the infrequency of occurrence, using a moderate qualifier.

a bit scarce

Suggests a limited availability or presence.

not quite typical

Indicates a departure from what is considered standard or expected.

hardly commonplace

Stresses the absence of ordinariness or widespread occurrence.

scarcely usual

Underlines the lack of typicality with a stronger emphasis.

a little exceptional

Shifts the focus to the positive, highlighting the exceptional nature.

FAQs

How can I use "slightly rare" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly rare" to describe the doneness of food, such as "I prefer my steak "slightly rare"". It can also describe something that is not very common.

What's a good substitute for "slightly rare" when describing food?

When referring to food, you might use "medium-rare" or "undercooked" depending on the specific degree of doneness you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "slightly rare" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "slightly rare" might be too informal for some contexts. Consider alternatives like "somewhat uncommon" or "relatively infrequent" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "rare" and "slightly rare"?

"Rare" indicates a minimal level of cooking, while "slightly rare" implies a bit more cooking than completely rare. It suggests a condition that is approaching, but has not fully reached, the "rare" state.