Faintly visible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Faintly visible" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that can be seen, but only very dimly or indistinctly. Example: The outline of the mountains was faintly visible against the twilight sky. Alternative expressions include "barely visible" and "dimly visible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Faintly visible in the right-hand corner are the prompter's hands.

The New York Times - Arts

Faintly visible in the lower left is the yellow "animal" cluster that includes dogs, cats, horses, etc.

Forbes

Center: unilluminated samples (with further work, the faintly visible star-shapes could be made nearly invisible).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The corona discharge was also faintly visible to a dark adapted eye.

Polymer

The outlines of bare trees faintly visible like an illustration from an English storybook.

The Guardian - Music

After half a century, the picture given by Preminger's "Advise and Consent" is still faintly visible.

The New Yorker

Although brown and black jaguars appear to be solid-coloured, spots are always faintly visible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some history-minded painter decided to leave the words faintly visible, as a reminder.

The Economist

The first lady, in her pink suit, is faintly visible in the back seat.

The Washington Post

These are faintly visible in the block at the far right.

MIT Technology Review

Upon visual examination, the microneedle marks of methylene blue were faintly visible on the mouse.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "faintly visible" when you want to emphasize that something can be seen, but with difficulty. This can add a sense of subtlety or mystery to your description.

Common error

Avoid using "faintly visible" in technical or scientific writing where precision is crucial. Opt for more specific terms that quantify the degree of visibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "faintly visible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a low degree of visibility. According to Ludwig, its use is grammatically correct and widely accepted. For example, "The outlines of bare trees "faintly visible" like an illustration from an English storybook."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

33%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "faintly visible" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something with a low degree of visibility. It's frequently found in News & Media and Science, and, according to Ludwig, is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended level of precision and consider more specific alternatives for technical writing. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and common usage of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vaguely visible

Similar in meaning but emphasizes lack of precision.

scarcely visible

Highlights the rarity or difficulty of seeing something.

barely perceptible

Indicates something is almost impossible to notice or detect.

dimly discernible

Describes something seen unclearly due to lack of light or clarity.

hardly noticeable

Implies something is difficult to observe or attract attention.

indistinctly seen

Refers to a lack of clear visibility.

shadowy

Suggests something is seen as a vague or dark shape.

blurred

Focuses on the lack of sharp outline or clarity.

out of focus

Describes something lacking sharpness and definition.

imperceptible

Indicates something is impossible to perceive by the senses.

FAQs

How can I use "faintly visible" in a sentence?

You can use "faintly visible" to describe something that is hard to see. For example, "The stars were "faintly visible" through the clouds".

What's a good alternative to "faintly visible"?

Alternatives include "barely perceptible", "dimly discernible", or "vaguely visible". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "faintly visible" formal or informal?

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

What does it mean when something is described as "faintly visible"?

It means that something can be seen, but its appearance is weak, unclear, or indistinct. It suggests a low degree of visibility.