barely absent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely absent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is almost not present or has a minimal presence. Example: "The atmosphere at the event was so lively that the few attendees who were barely absent hardly made a difference."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Asperger's spectrum ranges from people barely more abstracted than a stereotypical "absent-minded professor" to the full-blown, albeit highly functioning, autistic.

The New Yorker

Many important composers — including Stravinsky, Bartok and Messiaen — are barely represented or absent because the copyright has not expired for their works.

The New York Times - Arts

When Sox2-siRNA is applied early in preimplantation development, Sox2 protein levels are barely detectable or absent 3 days later, confirming the efficacy of siRNA as a technique for examining preimplantation protein function [54] [56].

Plosone

This is suggested by the barely visible or absent overlap between these breeds on the MDS plot.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Remarkably, while THEMIS is still well expressed in conventional T cells (Tconv), it is barely detected or absent in regulatory T cells (Treg) and intestinal CD8αα IELs (Johnson et al, 2009; Lesourne et al, 2009).

EMBO Journal

In most laboratory animals monooxygenases are apparently absent or barely detectable in fetal organs until just before birth.

Environmental Health Perspectives

(His absent mother, barely mentioned, is described as a drug addict).

The New York Times

In viable tumour tissues, inflammation was absent or barely present, whereas inflammatory cells - polynuclear and, to a lesser extent, mononuclear cells - were observed surrounding or within necrotic areas.

EJNMMI Research

Tensins -2 and -3 were absent or barely expressed in a variety of human cancer cell lines.

Plosone

By contrast, animals primed with mosquito SGE (cohorts 3, 4 and 5) exhibited overall lower Ab titers, consistent with absent or barely detectable and transient WNV RNA.

Plosone

Like the mouse Mup genes, these rat genes are under multi-hormone regulation, are transcribed in the adult male liver and robustly expressed in urine, but are absent or barely detectable in the female and juvenile liver [28], [38].

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely absent" to describe situations where something is technically present but has a negligible impact or effect. For example, "The team member was barely absent, as they still contributed remotely."

Common error

Avoid using "barely absent" when the subject is completely absent; reserve it for situations where there's a minimal, almost negligible presence. Using it otherwise dilutes the meaning and creates ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely absent" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing the degree to which something is not present. It modifies a noun, indicating a state of near-absence rather than complete absence. Ludwig confirms the correctness of this construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely absent" is grammatically correct, signifying a state of near-absence where something or someone is almost not present. While not frequently used, it appears in diverse contexts ranging from scientific publications to news articles, as validated by Ludwig. The phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, and alternative expressions like "scarcely present" or "virtually absent" can be employed to achieve similar communicative effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minimally present

This phrase directly states the minimal degree of presence, closely mirroring the meaning of "barely absent".

virtually absent

This indicates near-complete absence, with a slightly stronger emphasis on the lack of presence compared to "barely absent".

scarcely present

This alternative highlights the minimal presence of something, aligning closely with the meaning of "barely absent".

hardly there

This phrase suggests a very slight or negligible presence, similar to "barely absent" but more informal.

almost nonexistent

This phrase emphasizes the nearly complete lack of something, implying even less presence than "barely absent".

just about absent

This suggests something is on the verge of being completely absent, similar in meaning but less formal than "barely absent".

faintly present

This conveys a weak or indistinct presence, focusing on the quality rather than the degree of absence.

nearly invisible

This emphasizes the difficulty in detecting something, highlighting its lack of prominence rather than absence.

almost imperceptible

This suggests that something is difficult to perceive or notice, implying a very minimal presence.

tenuously present

This emphasizes the fragility and instability of something's presence, suggesting it could easily disappear.

FAQs

What does "barely absent" mean?

It means something or someone is almost not there or has a very minimal presence. It suggests a near absence rather than a complete one.

How can I use "barely absent" in a sentence?

You might say, "The trace amounts of contaminants were "minimally present" but posed no threat" or "His attention was "scarcely present" during the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "barely absent"?

Consider using phrases like "almost nonexistent", "scarcely present", or "virtually absent" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "barely absent"?

Yes, it is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase, though less common than other similar expressions.