uncommon activity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "uncommon activity" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action or event that is not frequently encountered or practiced. Example: "The workshop focused on an uncommon activity that few people had tried before, such as underwater basket weaving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Not that there is no reason to be interested: The wealth of images of anal sex on ancient Greek vases and walls suggest it was hardly an uncommon activity in the world of their creators.

The New Yorker

Whenever there's uncommon activity identified by the smart lights, the quadcopter flies to where the action is, to capture video and transmit it to the cloud.

TechCrunch

In a statement provided to VICE, an HTA spokesperson said: "Having spoken to a number of people involved in cryonics in the UK to gather information on the industry, the HTA considers it a relatively uncommon activity, which poses a low risk to the public.

Vice

Background: In the past 15 years, mobile telephone use has evolved from an uncommon activity to one with > 4.6 billion subscriptions worldwide.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Patient feedback did not result in creation of further items, as the suggested activities were either already covered by very similar items (e.g., washing and drying dishes or lying on one's back) or described uncommon activities (e.g., holding a wind instrument).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Elevated values were related to uncommon flaring activities in the refinery in addition to changes in the boundary layer height.

BioMed Research International

It is not uncommon that activities of daily living of afflicted patients may be preserved for a number of years apart from those relying on language function, although in most patients additional clinical features, such as behavioral dysregulation, executive dysfunction, apraxia and parkinsonism, can eventually emerge.

Alzheimer's Research and Therapy

The uncommon burst of activity will enable Italy's lower house to complete parliamentary approval of the package on Saturday.

The New York Times

The type of acute pressure applied in this technique (11 – 20 kg by each fist (150 – 380 mmHg) for up to 2 min) is not uncommon in daily activities, especially for people involved in sports or heavy manual labor.

BMC Anesthesiology

"It's uncommon to see such activity in the middle of nowhere," he said, adding that it was sufficiently unusual to have worried American intelligence officials.

The New York Times

Mid-summer (July and August) represents a secondary dry season over much of Oklahoma, with long stretches of hot weather with only sporadic thunderstorm activity not uncommon many years.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation as involving "uncommon activity", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is considered normal or typical against which the activity is being compared.

Common error

Avoid using "uncommon activity" when the activity is merely unexpected in a specific context but is, in fact, quite common in general. Ensure that it truly deviates from typical occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "uncommon activity" functions as a noun phrase, where "uncommon" modifies the noun "activity". It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing an action or occurrence that is not frequent. Ludwig AI confirms its proper grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "uncommon activity" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe infrequent or atypical actions. It finds application in both scientific and news contexts. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, its occurrence is relatively rare. Consider alternatives like "rare activity" or "unusual activity" depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines what is considered normal against which the activity is compared.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rare activity

Focuses on the infrequency of the activity, emphasizing its scarcity.

infrequent activity

Highlights the lack of regularity or frequency of the activity.

unusual activity

Indicates that the activity deviates from what is considered normal or typical.

exceptional activity

Emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the activity, setting it apart from the ordinary.

atypical activity

Stresses that the activity is not representative of a standard type or pattern.

uncharacteristic activity

Highlights that the activity is not typical or expected for a particular subject or situation.

aberrant activity

Suggests that the activity deviates from the norm, often implying an undesirable deviation.

sporadic activity

Indicates that the activity occurs irregularly and infrequently.

isolated activity

Focuses on the singular occurrence of the activity, without ongoing or related instances.

anomalous activity

Highlights that the activity is inconsistent with the established pattern or expected outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "uncommon activity" in a sentence?

You can use "uncommon activity" to describe events or actions that occur infrequently. For example, "The smart lights detected "uncommon activity" near the back fence, prompting the drone to investigate."

What are some alternatives to "uncommon activity"?

Alternatives include "rare activity", "infrequent activity", or "unusual activity". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "uncommon activity" formal or informal?

"Uncommon activity" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "uncommon activity" and "unusual activity"?

While similar, "uncommon activity" emphasizes the infrequency of the activity, whereas "unusual activity" highlights its deviation from the norm or expectation. The choice depends on whether you want to stress rarity or atypicality.