Scarcely any

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarcely any" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something is present in very small amounts or almost none at all. Example: "There were scarcely any attendees at the meeting." Alternative expressions include "hardly any" and "barely any."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Scarcely any electricity or water.

The Economist

Scarcely any street-criers in New York.

The New Yorker

Scarcely any.

Forbes

Scarcely any Cisco, Oracle or Sun, let alone WorldCom or Enron.

Forbes

Now there are scarcely any.

Independent

Politically, it has scarcely any.

The Economist

There was scarcely any mention of sports.

The New York Times

The reaction was similar: scarcely any effect.

The New Yorker

But they make scarcely any money.

The Economist

There are scarcely any customers.

The New York Times

The next two did scarcely any better.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely any" to express a quantity that is almost non-existent. It is more formal than "hardly any" and adds a touch of sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely any" in very informal contexts. While grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation or writing. Opt for alternatives like "hardly any" or "almost no" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely any" functions as a determiner, specifically a quantifier, indicating a very small quantity or near absence of something. It modifies a noun to express that there is little to none of it. Ludwig AI confirms its wide usage across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely any" functions as a determiner indicating a minimal quantity or near absence. Ludwig AI data shows it is considered grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and science. While versatile, it leans towards the formal side, so consider your audience when choosing between "scarcely any" and its more casual alternatives. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize how little of something there is, adding a touch of sophistication to your writing without sounding overly stilted. As a determiner, it can be substituted with alternative phrases such as "hardly any", "barely any", and "almost no".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hardly any

A very close synonym, emphasizing the minimal amount or near absence.

Barely any

Similar to "hardly any", stressing the idea that something is present but only just.

Almost no

Directly indicates the near absence of something.

Virtually no

Similar to "practically none", emphasizing the near absence.

Very little

Emphasizes the small quantity rather than the absence.

Practically none

Highlights that something is virtually non-existent.

Next to none

Indicates a quantity so small it's almost negligible.

A negligible amount

Focuses on the insignificance of the quantity.

A minimum of

Implies the smallest possible quantity is present.

A trace of

Suggests only a very faint presence of something.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely any" in a sentence?

Use "scarcely any" to indicate a minimal quantity or near absence. For example, "There was "scarcely any" evidence to support the claim."

What are some alternatives to "scarcely any"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly any", "barely any", or "almost no" depending on the context.

Is "scarcely any" formal or informal?

"Scarcely any" is considered more formal than alternatives like "hardly any" or "almost no". Choose your words based on the tone and audience of your writing.

What's the difference between "scarcely any" and "hardly any"?

Both phrases indicate a minimal quantity. "Scarcely any" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the rarity or unexpectedness of the small quantity, while "hardly any" is more neutral.