so rarely that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so rarely that" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation or occurrence that occurs extremely infrequently or almost never. For example, you could say, "I get to see my grandparents so rarely that I treasure every moment I spend with them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They occur so rarely that it is difficult to discern patterns or make reliable forecasts.

The New Yorker

They travel abroad so rarely that they don't see how far they are falling behind.

The New York Times

This happens so rarely that I rolled down the window at once.

The New York Times

I go out so rarely that just going out is amazing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That happens so rarely that when it occurs it is of historical significance.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Our kids see TV ads so rarely that they're actually curious about and confused by them: "What is that?

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Surkov gives interviews so rarely that each one qualifies as a news event, and he did not respond to a list of reporter's questions.

The New York Times

Institutions of higher education switch religious affiliations, as New York Medical College did nine months ago, so rarely that there really is no playbook to follow.

The New York Times

But in its former, cramped home, Ms. Sultan said, "there were works that were never shown, or shown so rarely that people didn't recognize them".

The New York Times

While there are a handful of photographs of the girls from early childhood, they have been seen so rarely that most Russians would not recognize them.

The New York Times

As a toddler, he smiled so rarely that his parents called him Cardozo, after the Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo, whose manner was pointedly grave.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "so rarely that", ensure that the second clause clearly explains the consequence or result of the infrequency. This strengthens the logical connection and enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "so rarely that" when the second clause doesn't logically follow from the first. The infrequency must directly contribute to the result described in the second part of the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so rarely that" functions as an adverbial intensifier followed by a conjunction. It modifies a verb or adjective, emphasizing the infrequency of an action or state and introducing a clause that describes the consequence or result of that rarity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "so rarely that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction that serves to emphasize the infrequency of an event and its subsequent consequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a reliable and clear way to express this relationship. Its prevalence in news, scientific, and formal business contexts highlights its versatility across different registers. When using "so rarely that", ensure a clear and logical connection between the infrequency and the result, and consider alternatives like "so infrequently that" or "almost never that" to add nuance to your writing. Avoiding illogical connections will further improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so infrequently that

Replaces "rarely" with its direct synonym, maintaining the same structure and meaning.

so seldom that

Uses "seldom" as a synonym for "rarely", preserving the original construction.

so uncommonly that

Employs "uncommonly" in place of "rarely", which slightly alters the tone while keeping the sense intact.

so sporadically that

Substitutes "rarely" with "sporadically", emphasizing the irregular nature of the occurrences.

occurs so infrequently that

Rephrases to focus on the occurrence's infrequency, changing the sentence structure.

happens so rarely that

Modifies the expression to use "happens" instead of a more general verb, adding a touch of casualness.

it is so rare that

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the rarity itself, using a different syntactic pattern.

it's such a rarity that

Changes the phrase to highlight the rarity as a noun, altering the grammatical form.

hardly ever that

Uses an informal idiom to convey the same meaning of "almost never", significantly changing the tone.

almost never that

Replaces "so rarely" with the explicit phrase "almost never", simplifying the expression.

FAQs

How can I use "so rarely that" in a sentence?

Use "so rarely that" to connect a rare occurrence with its consequence. For example: "He smiles "so rarely that" his parents nicknamed him Cardozo because he was always serious".

What phrases are similar to "so rarely that"?

Alternatives include "so infrequently that", "so seldom that", or "almost never that". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "so rarely that" or "rarely enough that"?

"So rarely that" is generally preferred because it directly links the infrequency to a consequence. "Rarely enough that" can sound awkward and is less common.

Can "so rarely that" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "so rarely that" is suitable for formal writing. Ludwig's examples show it's used in reputable news and academic publications.