Cool MateNot regularly vs Seldom
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not regularly
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Seldom
Top 3,000 (common)C1adverb
Most common: Seldom
| Not regularly | Seldom | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈrɛɡjʊləli//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈrɛɡjʊlɛrli// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈseldəm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈseldəm/"]/ |
| Meaning | Not happening often or at regular times. | not often |
| Example | I exercise not regularly, but when I do, I give it my all. | She seldom goes to the gym because she prefers outdoor activities. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | not regularly scheduled, not regularly occurring, not regularly implemented | seldom seen, seldom heard, seldom used, seldom acknowledged, seldom mentioned |
| Antonyms | - | 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.' | 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. | 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 Seldom
What's the difference between Not regularly and Seldom?
Not regularly: Not happening often or at regular times. Seldom: not often
Which is more common: Not regularly and Seldom?
Seldom is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Not regularly: I exercise not regularly, but when I do, I give it my all. Seldom: She seldom goes to the gym because she prefers outdoor activities.
Can I use Not regularly and Seldom interchangeably?
Not always. Not regularly 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.