seldom

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Linguistic Reminder

(This reminder is available in English only.)

Problem

Because most adverbs end in ly, some people mistakenly add ly to the adverb seldom.

Solution

Avoid seldomly, which is non-standard English.

Instead, use seldom, the correct adverb form:

  • Ontarians seldom (not seldomly) have such warm weather in October.

In more formal constructions, the adverb seldom can be used at the beginning of a sentence, with the helping verb before the subject:

  • Seldom do we learn from a first mistake.
    [Here, the helping verb do is placed before the subject we.]

Linguistic Recommendation reference number

REM-9/2009-01

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seldom (REM-9/2009-01) - Comments

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