I hardly believed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I hardly believed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express skepticism or disbelief about something that has been said or presented. Example: "When I heard the news, I hardly believed it at first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I hardly believed it," she says.

The New Yorker

Just one problem: her last, beneficent lie made me look back over the expanse of the film and realize, to my dismay, that I hardly believed a word of it.

The New Yorker

I hardly believed any of us would survive for very long, and thousands did not.

Huffington Post

And though I hardly believed myself at this point (I was seriously into doubting everything...), I had very little else to try and absolutely nothing to lose.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I hardly believe the sad news for I was sure she was enchanted and would live forever".

Independent

Lawrence is a fine actress, but, in this role, I hardly believe a word.

The New Yorker

I remember my kids sharing textbooks at school, and I hardly believe that as I write it, but it's true.

The Guardian - Opinion

It has the heft of reality, no self-consciousness, no Disney, except that I hardly believe I m here.

Forbes

"I hardly believe that I am the only one to get stomach ache over this," he said.

Huffington Post

And now I hardly believe I've got the chance to graduate.

Unicef

It is such an unexpected episode, so crazily English in its kinkiness, that I tell Weldon I could hardly believe what I was reading.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I hardly believed" to express mild disbelief or surprise, often when initially encountering information that seems improbable or unexpected. It's less emphatic than "I couldn't believe".

Common error

While "I hardly believed" is acceptable, avoid using "hardly" too frequently in formal writing. Over-reliance can make your writing sound repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "scarcely" or rephrasing for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I hardly believed" functions as a statement expressing a past feeling of disbelief or skepticism. It suggests that the speaker found something difficult to accept as true initially. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I hardly believed" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express mild disbelief or surprise regarding a past event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not overly common, it appears in neutral contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, it's best to use this phrase to convey an initial reaction of doubt, but consider stronger alternatives if a more emphatic statement is needed. The contexts where "I hardly believed" shows up the most are News & Media and Formal & Business.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I found it hard to believe

Emphasizes the difficulty in accepting something as true.

I struggled to believe

Highlights the internal conflict in accepting something.

I could scarcely believe it

Uses "scarcely" to intensify the feeling of disbelief.

I had difficulty believing

Similar to 'I found it hard to believe', but with a slight shift in emphasis.

I could barely believe it

Uses "barely" to indicate a minimal level of belief.

I doubted it

A more direct and concise way of expressing disbelief.

I questioned it

Focuses on the act of questioning the validity of something.

I was skeptical

Indicates a general attitude of doubt or suspicion.

I took it with a grain of salt

Implies a cautious approach to accepting something as true.

I remained unconvinced

Indicates that one was not persuaded or convinced of something.

FAQs

How can I use "I hardly believed" in a sentence?

You can use "I hardly believed" to express that you found something difficult to accept as true or that you were surprised by something. For example, "When I heard the news, "I hardly believed" it at first."

What's a stronger alternative to "I hardly believed"?

For a stronger expression of disbelief, consider using phrases like "I couldn't believe" or "I found it impossible to believe". These convey a more intense feeling of incredulity.

Is "I hardly believe" the same as "I hardly believed"?

"I hardly believe" expresses present disbelief, while ""I hardly believed"" refers to a past feeling of disbelief. The choice depends on whether you're describing a current state or a past reaction.

What's the difference between "I hardly believed" and "I didn't believe"?

"I didn't believe" is a direct statement of disbelief, while ""I hardly believed"" suggests an initial feeling of disbelief that may or may not have changed over time. "I hardly believed" implies a degree of surprise or astonishment.