I know hardly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I know hardly" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is likely intended to express a lack of knowledge about something, but it is not a common or grammatically correct construction. Example: "I know hardly anything about the topic we are discussing."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

And yet, it turns out, I know hardly anything.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The problem is I know hardly any of them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, some 17 years on, I know hardly anyone with greater job satisfaction than me.

The Guardian

It's never made sense that I spend money on something and I know hardly anything about where it comes from.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I know hardly anything that delights me more than such evidences of sweet brotherly love being a reality in the world".

The Guardian - Opinion

That internal struggle ought to have been exciting — it's been a long time since we had such an opportunity — and it has been exciting, but I know hardly anyone who hasn't also been made a little crazy by it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

I knew hardly anything about her, but what I knew I cherished.

The Guardian - Opinion

I knew hardly anything about the game, but I had my ideas about the type of people who played it.

The New Yorker

When I came to America, I knew hardly anyone, only a second cousin who was a locksmith, so I worked for him.

The New Yorker

"On the first day I was nervous and afraid," admits Chadni Akther, 14. "I knew hardly anything about photography, but the tutor taught us about shutter speed, aperture and other aspects of operating a camera".

Unicef

"I've been coming here nearly 20 years and I don't know hardly anybody," she tells me.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "I know hardly", opt for established alternatives like "I hardly know" or "I know very little" to ensure clarity and correctness in your writing.

Common error

Ensure you don't mistakenly place "hardly" after "know" when intending to express limited knowledge. The correct structure is "I hardly know", where "hardly" modifies the verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I know hardly" functions as an attempt to express limited knowledge or familiarity. However, it deviates from standard English grammar, as noted by Ludwig. The intended meaning is generally understandable, but the word order is incorrect.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I know hardly" appears in various sources and contexts, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning—to express limited knowledge or familiarity—is often clear, but the non-standard word order undermines its effectiveness. It's best to opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "I hardly know" or "I know very little" to ensure clarity and precision in your writing. Despite its common occurrence, especially in News & Media, adhering to standard English usage will enhance your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I barely know

Replaces "hardly" with "barely", indicating a slight degree of knowledge.

I scarcely know

Substitutes "hardly" with "scarcely", conveying a minimal level of familiarity.

I know very little

Uses a more direct phrase to express limited knowledge.

I have little knowledge of

Emphasizes the lack of information about a subject.

I'm not very familiar with

Focuses on the lack of familiarity with something or someone.

My knowledge is limited

Highlights the restricted scope of one's understanding.

I am largely ignorant of

Emphasizes a significant lack of knowledge.

I don't know much about

A simpler way of expressing limited information.

I know next to nothing

Emphasizes a near-complete lack of knowledge.

I'm relatively uninformed about

Indicates a lack of information compared to what is expected.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "hardly" in a sentence to express limited knowledge?

The correct way to use "hardly" to indicate limited knowledge is to place it before the verb, such as in the phrase "I "I hardly know"".

What's a better way to say "I know hardly"?

Instead of "I know hardly", you can say ""I hardly know"", "I know very little", or "I know scarcely".

Is "I know hardly anything" grammatically correct?

While the intent is understandable, "I know hardly anything" is not standard English. A more appropriate phrasing is "I "I hardly know anything"".

Which is the correct way to express minimal knowledge: "I know hardly" or "I hardly know"?

""I hardly know"" is the grammatically correct way to express minimal knowledge. "I know hardly" is generally considered incorrect.