there are seldom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there are seldom" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to express rarity or infrequency of something. Example: There are seldom any parking spaces available near the city center during peak hours.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

There is rarely a need to engage with someone else on social media, because the occurrences there are seldom germane to your life in real time and real existence; which leads me to the next reason why we do not need to argue with someone on social media.

HuffPost

There are seldom good-bad answers.

The Guardian

There are seldom any witnesses, and fires can be started with commonplace items.

The New York Times

On the other hand, there are seldom unpleasant surprises like that working ant hill.

The New York Times

Their films have to have heroes and baddies – there are seldom shades of grey.

The Guardian - Books

There are seldom signs of grief; instead, the figures assume rather static poses and thus emit a dreamlike pathos.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Because the wild type loci for these alleles lack an altered promoter element there is seldom any variation in the cytosine methylation epitype at the wild type loci.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Now there are seldom-used vacation houses on all sides.

The New Yorker

High above, there are seldom-visited islands within islands, mossy elfin cloud forests filled with endemic birds often known from only one or two specimens collected a century or more ago.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, there is seldom anyone to intercede.

The New York Times

There is seldom anything left over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there are seldom" to introduce a statement that contrasts with common expectations. For example, "There are seldom easy solutions to complex problems."

Common error

Avoid using "there are seldom" when you mean something almost never happens. "Seldom" implies rare but not impossible, unlike "never".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there are seldom" functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or clause, indicating the infrequency of an action or state. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct. The examples provided by Ludwig show it used in contexts to express something that occurs infrequently.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

39%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there are seldom" is a grammatically correct way to express that something occurs infrequently, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic content. Its use indicates a neutral register, suitable for conveying information without being overly formal. When using "there are seldom", remember that it implies rarity rather than complete absence and consider alternative phrases like "there are rarely" or "there are few" to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there are rarely

Replaces "seldom" with "rarely", maintaining the same meaning of infrequency.

there are few

Uses "few" to indicate a small number, similar to "seldom" implying not many occurrences.

there are not often

Employs a more explicit negation with "not often" to convey infrequency.

it is uncommon to find

Shifts the structure to emphasize the uncommon nature of finding something.

it is unusual to see

Highlights the unusual occurrence of something, similar to "seldom".

instances are infrequent

Rephrases to focus on the infrequency of instances or occurrences.

occurrences are rare

Similar to "instances are infrequent", but uses "rare" for emphasis.

one rarely finds

Changes the subject to "one" to generalize the experience of rarely finding something.

it's not common to

A more colloquial way to express that something is not a frequent occurrence.

scarcely do you find

Inverts the sentence for emphasis, using "scarcely" to show rarity.

FAQs

How can I use "there are seldom" in a sentence?

Use "there are seldom" to indicate that something happens infrequently but not never. For example, "There are seldom any complaints about the quality of their work".

What does "there are seldom" mean?

"There are seldom" means that something happens rarely or infrequently. It's stronger than "sometimes" but weaker than "never".

Which is correct, "there are seldom" or "there is seldom"?

"There are seldom" is used with plural nouns (e.g., "There are seldom problems"), while "there is seldom" is used with singular uncountable nouns (e.g., "there is seldom time").

What can I say instead of "there are seldom"?

Alternatives include "there are rarely", "there are few", or "it is uncommon to" depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.