Cool MateNot regularly vs Occasionally vs Seldom
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not regularly
Occasionally
Seldom
| Not regularly | Occasionally | Seldom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈrɛɡjʊləli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈrɛɡjʊlɛrli// | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkeɪʒnəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkeɪʒnəli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈseldəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈseldəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not happening often or at regular times. | Sometimes, but not often. | not often |
| Example | I exercise not regularly, but when I do, I give it my all. | We occasionally meet for a drink after work. | She seldom goes to the gym because she prefers outdoor activities. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | not regularly scheduled, not regularly occurring, not regularly implemented | occurs occasionally, rarely used occasionally, happens occasionally | seldom seen, seldom heard, seldom used, seldom acknowledged, seldom mentioned |
| Antonyms | - | frequently, often, regularly | often, frequently, regularly |
| Common mistakes | Using 'not regular' instead of 'not regularly'., Confusing with 'irregularly', which implies different patterns of occurrence., Using with countable nouns incorrectly, e.g., 'not regularly meals.' | Using 'occasionally' when 'often' is more appropriate., Confusing 'occasionally' with 'occasion' (which is a noun)., Adding unnecessary prepositions, e.g., 'occasionally at'. | Confused with 'never' - 'seldom' means not often, not not at all., Using 'seldom' with positive verb constructions - it's usually used in negative or interrogative forms., Incorrectly placing 'seldom' at the end of a sentence; it should come before the main verb. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written contexts to indicate infrequency; suitable for formal and informal situations. | Used in both spoken and written English. It often implies that something happens at irregular intervals, which makes it less formal than some alternatives, but still appropriate for most contexts. | Use 'seldom' in neutral contexts to indicate something happens infrequently. Avoid in very formal writing; 'rarely' may be preferred. Stay away from casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not regularly vs Occasionally vs Seldom
What's the difference between Not regularly, Occasionally, and Seldom?
Not regularly: Not happening often or at regular times. Occasionally: Sometimes, but not often. Seldom: not often
Which is more common: Not regularly, Occasionally, and Seldom?
Occasionally is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Not regularly, Occasionally, and Seldom?
Seldom is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Not regularly: I exercise not regularly, but when I do, I give it my all. Occasionally: We occasionally meet for a drink after work. Seldom: She seldom goes to the gym because she prefers outdoor activities.
Can I use Not regularly, Occasionally, and Seldom interchangeably?
Not always. Not regularly, Occasionally, and Seldom are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.