barely anybody

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely anybody" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that very few people are involved or present in a situation. Example: "At the event, there were barely anybody who showed up despite the extensive promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

There is barely anybody left.

The Economist

There was barely anybody out on the streets.

The Guardian - Opinion

Barely anybody, including in the region, predicted the uprisings of 2010 and 2011.

Independent

Nobody called all six games correctly in week 10, and, frankly, barely anybody got close.

The Guardian - Sport

Although it seems sad for something like this to go, barely anybody uses a phone book anymore.

The New York Times

Then came the realization that barely anybody knew he had been sick, including an old ally like Brian Eno, with whom he had traded emails a week before.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

You could barely see anybody because of the smoke, and you couldn't talk to anybody because half of the people you wanted to talk to wanted to sell you narcotics".

The New York Times

Gazing across the audience himself, though, David barely recognized anybody.

The New York Times - Magazine

Contribution limits barely limit anybody from giving exorbitant amounts to their favorite compliant politician.

The New York Times

Some big companies barely "employ" anybody at all, hiding behind the franchises, temp staffing agencies and contractors that actually do the hiring and firing (or work for themselves).

The Washington Post

I barely let anybody except my sister see me getting dressed".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely anybody" to emphasize a surprising lack of people where more might be expected. For instance, "Barely anybody showed up to the concert despite the band's popularity."

Common error

Don't use "barely anybody" when you simply want to state that a situation involves a small number of people without any implied surprise or disappointment. In such cases, using "few people" or "hardly anyone" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely anybody" functions as a quantifier, indicating a very small number or near absence of individuals. It serves to emphasize scarcity or the unexpected lack of people, as validated by Ludwig AI and its examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely anybody" is a grammatically sound quantifier used to express a very small number, or near absence, of people in a given situation. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in news and media to emphasize scarcity, often with an implication of surprise. While generally neutral in register, it tends towards informality and is less common in formal academic or professional settings. Alternatives like "hardly anyone" or "almost no one" may be preferred in more formal contexts or when a more neutral tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Almost no one

Emphasizes the near absence of people.

Hardly anyone

Indicates that very few people are involved.

Very few people

Directly states the scarcity of individuals.

Scarcely anyone

Highlights the rarity of people present.

Practically nobody

Suggests a situation close to having no people present.

Next to nobody

Implies a minimal presence of people.

A handful of people at most

Specifies a small, countable number of individuals.

Just a few individuals

Emphasizes the small number of people involved.

A small number of people

A more formal way of expressing a limited quantity of individuals.

An insignificant number of people

Highlights that the number of people is not important or impactful.

FAQs

What does "barely anybody" mean?

The phrase "barely anybody" means almost no one or very few people. It emphasizes a scarcity or near-absence of individuals in a particular situation.

Is it correct to say "barely anybody"?

Yes, it is correct. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. The phrase "barely anybody" is used to express that there are very few, if any, people present or involved in something.

What are some alternatives to "barely anybody"?

Alternatives include "hardly anyone", "almost no one", or "very few people". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When should I use "barely anybody" instead of "few people"?

Use "barely anybody" when you want to express surprise or disappointment at the lack of people. "Few people" is a more neutral statement about a small quantity.