Hardly demonstrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Hardly demonstrate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is only able to show or prove something to a very limited extent. Example: "The results of the experiment hardly demonstrate the effectiveness of the new drug."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A search for a third chief executive in a year would hardly demonstrate that.

The Guardian - Sport

Laura Snapes of the New Music Express said Mr. Brown "may have owned up to making a mistake, but remarks like these hardly demonstrate that he has 'learned from it' and added "what's equally as pernicious as Brown's lack of remorse is the way that the culture industry at large has decided to gloss over what he did".

The New York Times

Because fossil fish can hardly demonstrate their feeding style, palaeontologists have looked to changes in the jaw, teeth, and gills for evidence of the sea-land transition.

Science Magazine

Although these few remarks hardly demonstrate the viability of this hybrid view, anyone defending premise (1) on the assumption that moral judgments are essentially beliefs needs to consider this alternative and rule it out.

SEP

These analyses are not possible with demand forecast models built on historical samples, simply because, these forecast models and their level of accuracy are limited by their training data sets and can hardly demonstrate variations that are not present in the historical data sets.

Applied Energy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This hardly demonstrates the compassionate conservatism we have been hearing so much about for the last year.

The New York Times

This hardly demonstrated foresight since I have now presented a Sunday morning talk show for the past decade.

The Guardian

But even when he is in the game, he has hardly demonstrated that he is one of the premier operatives in the N.B.A.

The New York Times - Sports

To want the office so badly that you would intentionally make our country's problems worse might prove you can read a poll or take a cheap shot, but it hardly demonstrates presidential leadership".

The New York Times

But saying, in effect, that between 2000 and 2007, some investors thought there was some chance that the banks would be bailed out hardly demonstrates that moral hazard was a major factor in what went wrong.

The New Yorker

My onglette steak was nicely done, tender and soft, sliced in the Tuscan tagliata style, drizzled with pesto and served with shaved fennel and fries: fine, though hardly demonstrating much cuisinal skill.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly demonstrate", ensure that the context clearly indicates the lack of sufficient evidence or proof. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing the weakness of a claim or argument.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly demonstrate" when the evidence is completely absent. This phrase implies that there is some indication, however slight, rather than none at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly demonstrate" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the subject provides minimal or insufficient evidence. It modifies a verb and highlights the weakness or inadequacy of the demonstration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly demonstrate" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something provides minimal or insufficient evidence. Ludwig AI confirms that it is suitable for written English. It is most frequently found in news and media and scientific contexts. Related phrases include "barely indicate" and "faintly suggest", offering similar nuanced meanings. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates the lack of sufficient evidence. Avoid using it when there is a complete absence of evidence, because the phrase implies that there is some indication, however slight, rather than none at all.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely indicate

Emphasizes the minimal level of indication provided.

Scarcely reveal

Highlights the infrequency or scarcity of what's being revealed.

Faintly suggest

Implies a weak or subtle suggestion, rather than a clear demonstration.

Weakly imply

Focuses on the indirect and feeble nature of the implication.

Minimally prove

Stresses the small degree to which something is proven.

Offers little evidence

Highlights the lack of substantial evidence.

Provides scant proof

Emphasizes the limited amount of proof available.

Slightly illustrate

Focuses on the subtle and limited illustration provided.

Barely exemplify

Emphasizes the minimal level of exemplification provided.

Scarcely validate

Highlights the infrequency or scarcity of validation.

FAQs

How can I use "Hardly demonstrate" in a sentence?

You can use "Hardly demonstrate" to express that something provides very little evidence or proof for a claim. For example, "The preliminary data "hardly demonstrate" the drug's effectiveness".

What are some alternatives to "Hardly demonstrate"?

Alternatives include phrases like "barely indicate", "scarcely reveal", or "faintly suggest", which also convey a weak or limited display of evidence.

What's the difference between "Hardly demonstrate" and "Clearly demonstrate"?

"Hardly demonstrate" implies a lack of sufficient evidence or proof, whereas "Clearly demonstrate" suggests strong and compelling evidence. The former casts doubt, while the latter asserts certainty.

Is "Hardly demonstrate" a formal or informal expression?

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