Definitions
- Describing something that happens more often than expected but not quite frequently. - Referring to an occurrence that is not rare but also not common. - Talking about a situation that happens occasionally or irregularly.
- Describing something that happens rarely or not very often. - Referring to an occurrence that is uncommon or unusual. - Talking about a situation that happens only once in a while or at long intervals.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that happens less often than usual.
- 2Both words indicate that the occurrence is not common.
- 3Both words suggest that the event is not happening regularly.
What is the difference?
- 1Frequency: Unseldom implies that the event happens more often than expected, while infrequent suggests that the event happens rarely.
- 2Degree: Unseldom indicates that the event is not very common, but still happens occasionally, while infrequent suggests that the event is extremely rare.
- 3Usage: Unseldom is more commonly used in informal contexts, while infrequent is more formal and academic.
- 4Connotation: Unseldom has a neutral connotation, while infrequent can have a negative connotation, suggesting that the event is undesirable or inconvenient.
- 5Adverb vs. Adjective: Unseldom is an adverb, while infrequent is an adjective.
Remember this!
Unseldom and infrequent are synonyms that describe something that happens less often than usual. However, unseldom implies that the event happens more often than expected, while infrequent suggests that the event happens rarely. Additionally, unseldom is more commonly used in informal contexts, while infrequent is more formal and academic.
