barely altered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely altered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has undergone minimal changes or modifications. Example: "The original design was barely altered, maintaining its classic appeal while incorporating modern elements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Still, Wood barely altered his repertory.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite its recommendations, seven years later the picture has barely altered.

The Guardian

Through all of this, Mr. Buffett has barely altered his core portfolio.

The New York Times

Alongside is the barely altered old post office hall, where stamps were sold and letters weighed.

Independent

These market shares have barely altered over the past 15 years, despite almost a dozen previous investigations.

The Guardian - Business

Sprawling over a hillside next door is the island's second town, Glossa, which has barely altered in response to tourism.

The Guardian - Travel

"Fran-Dance," first recorded in 1958, was a barely altered version of "Put Your Little Foot Right Out," a 1939 waltz Miles played in 4/4 time.

The New York Times - Arts

The same chancellor had, after all, delivered another budget less than four months before, and Britain's financial circumstances have barely altered since.

The Guardian - Opinion

The neighbourhood itself appears to have barely altered; I'm constantly stumbling over the houses I visited and the parks where I played.

The Guardian

Mr. Edwards, of course, has been so thoroughly investigated over the years that many Louisianans said in interviews that this trial had barely altered their perception of him.

The New York Times

Ramming through a series of pre-cooked ideas, based on a federalist agenda that has barely altered since the 1950s, is an odd way to go about things.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely altered", ensure the context clarifies what aspect has remained largely the same despite potential minor changes. This helps avoid ambiguity and emphasizes the stability or consistency of the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "barely altered" when there have been significant or noticeable changes. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the changes are truly minimal and do not fundamentally affect the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely altered" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by a verb (often in the past participle form). It describes the extent to which something has been changed, emphasizing the minimal nature of the alteration. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely altered" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that has undergone minimal changes. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clarifies what aspect has remained largely the same, emphasizing the subject's stability. Alternatives include "slightly modified" and "hardly changed", offering nuanced ways to convey similar meanings. Avoid using the phrase when there have been noticeable or significant changes to maintain accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly modified

Replaces "altered" with "modified", implying a slight adjustment rather than a complete transformation.

scarcely changed

Uses "scarcely" instead of "barely", emphasizing the minimal extent of the change.

minimally adjusted

Substitutes "altered" with "adjusted", suggesting a fine-tuning process with little impact.

slightly modified

Emphasizes the small degree of change through the use of "slightly".

remained largely the same

Indicates that the subject has not undergone significant changes.

substantially unchanged

Implies the core elements have not experienced modifications.

virtually untouched

Suggests an almost complete absence of alteration.

essentially preserved

Highlights that the original state has been maintained with very few changes.

nominally different

Suggests there are differences but they are insignificant.

marginally transformed

Indicates the transformation was so minor it barely made an impact.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely altered" to describe something that has undergone minimal changes. For example, "The recipe was "barely altered" from the original version".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "barely altered"?

Alternatives to "barely altered" include "slightly modified", "hardly changed", or "minimally adjusted". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "slightly altered" instead of "barely altered"?

Both "slightly altered" and "barely altered" are correct, but they convey different degrees of change. "Slightly altered" suggests a small change, while "barely altered" implies an even smaller, almost negligible change. Therefore, "slightly altered" could be more accurate if there's a change, no matter how small.

What does "barely altered" imply about the subject being described?

"Barely altered" implies that the subject has remained largely the same despite undergoing some minimal modifications. It emphasizes the subject's stability or consistency.