barely anything

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely anything" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that there is a small amount or quantity in a certain context. For example, "I have barely anything left of my savings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Laroche had barely anything left.

The New Yorker

Barely anything moves.

The Guardian - Arts

Barely anything else since.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"There's barely anything about Brooklyn on there," he said.

The New York Times

And then around the corner, barely anything at all.

The New York Times

Some years – 1712, for example – are remembered for barely anything.

Independent

A dry listless snow was falling, barely anything.

The New Yorker

There really is barely anything to say about the PlayBook.

The Guardian - Tech

Thomas recalls barely anything about her own Test debut.

The Guardian - Sport

I met you about 30 seconds ago, and I know barely anything about you.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He barely did anything.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely anything" to emphasize the smallness of a quantity, difference or effort. For example, "She ate barely anything all day", suggests she ate very little.

Common error

Avoid using "barely anything" when you simply mean "something". "Barely anything" highlights scarcity, not mere existence. For example, don't say "I know barely anything about quantum physics" if you actually know some basics; "I know something about quantum physics" is more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely anything" functions as an adverbial modifier quantifying a noun or pronoun, indicating a minimal amount or degree. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct. For instance, "I have barely anything left of my savings."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely anything" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that emphasizes a minimal amount or near absence. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence in News & Media underscores its accessibility. While synonyms like "almost nothing" and "hardly anything" exist, "barely anything" maintains a distinct emphasis. Use "barely anything" to highlight scarcity, but avoid it when implying simple existence. The phrase presents no significant usage errors, making it a reliable choice for expressing minimal quantities in various communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly anything

A direct synonym, interchangeable with "barely anything" in most contexts, emphasizing the scarcity or insignificance of something.

almost nothing

Indicates a quantity that is close to zero, similar to "barely anything" but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the near-total absence.

virtually nothing

Highlights that something is so close to zero that it can be considered as such for practical purposes.

scarcely anything

Similar to "barely anything", but implies a more formal tone and a sense of something being rare or insufficient.

next to nothing

Emphasizes the minimal amount or value of something, suggesting it's practically worthless or nonexistent.

a negligible amount

Focuses on the insignificance of the quantity, indicating it has little to no impact.

a minimal quantity

Directly refers to the smallness of the amount, suitable for more technical or descriptive contexts.

almost no quantity

The presence of the word quantity makes the whole expression more formal.

very little

A more general way to express a small amount, less emphatic than "barely anything" but applicable in many situations.

a speck

Suggests an extremely small, almost invisible amount or presence.

FAQs

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

"Barely anything" is used to emphasize that the amount or quantity of something is very small or almost nonexistent. For example, "There was "barely anything" left after the party" indicates that almost all of the food or drinks were consumed.

What's a similar phrase to "barely anything"?

Alternatives to "barely anything" include "almost nothing", "hardly anything", or "virtually nothing". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is "barely anything" formal or informal?

"Barely anything" is suitable for both informal and neutral contexts, such as conversations, news reports, or general writing. It is less common in highly formal or academic writing, where phrases like "a negligible amount" might be preferred.

Which is correct: "there is barely anything" or "there are barely anything"?

The correct phrase is "there is "barely anything"", as "anything" is treated as a singular, non-countable noun. For example, "There is "barely anything" to eat in the fridge."