barely applicable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely applicable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or rule that is only marginally relevant or suitable in a given context. Example: "The new regulations are barely applicable to our current operations, as they primarily target larger companies."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Indeed, Occam's razor is an old-school instrument, and it has been applied simply because more contemporary scientific approaches are barely applicable in this case.

Biology Direct

Arguably, FET enrichment is barely applicable with n = 2, since only a fold change of differentially expressed genes between two samples can be measured and considered for further analysis.

BMC Medical Genomics

Although current advances in genetic targeting of specific cell populations have greatly contributed to the identification of genes, cells and mechanisms involved in liver fibrogenesis, these strategies are barely applicable for human therapy, but they do help to define suitable therapeutic targets.

Fibrogenesis and Tissue Repair

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It just seemed applicable".

The New York Times

This is only applicable if you barely touch your phone or have not used it any more than normal.

WikiHow

Storrie, who turned 16 in February, is ranked No4 among 18-year-olds in talent-rich California – despite being allowed to compete in barely more than a handful of applicable tournaments.

The Guardian - Sport

The segmentation method was not applicable for replicons outside C58, thus hampering detection of barely similar CDS homologs in these cases.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Mothers rated their child's frequency of compliance for each of the 31 items as 'never complies', 'rarely complies', 'sometimes complies', 'often complies', 'always complies' or 'not applicable' (i.e., I have never asked my child to do this).

BMC Pediatrics

Not applicable.

The Guardian

Use as applicable.

The New Yorker

Easily applicable.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely applicable", consider if a stronger term like "irrelevant" or "unsuitable" might be more accurate. This phrase is best when something has a minimal degree of relevance but is not entirely without connection.

Common error

Avoid using "barely applicable" when something is completely irrelevant. This phrase implies a small degree of relevance, so choose a more accurate descriptor if there is no connection at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely applicable" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a minimal level of relevance or suitability. Ludwig AI indicates that it follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely applicable" signifies something that has a slight degree of relevance or suitability, almost negligible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It's primarily used in scientific and news contexts to express a weak connection, as shown by the provided examples. When using "barely applicable", consider alternatives like "scarcely relevant" or "hardly pertinent" to achieve the desired nuance. Be sure to reserve this phrase for situations where some connection exists, avoiding its use when something is completely irrelevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly applicable

Uses a more direct synonym for "barely", focusing on the limited degree of applicability.

scarcely relevant

Emphasizes the lack of relevance more strongly than "barely applicable".

hardly pertinent

Uses a more formal term, "pertinent", to convey a similar meaning of limited relevance.

marginally suitable

Focuses on the suitability aspect, suggesting that something just meets the minimum requirements.

remotely connected

Highlights a weak connection, implying that something is only distantly related or relevant.

tenuously related

Indicates a very weak or fragile relationship, suggesting limited applicability.

minimally appropriate

Focuses on appropriateness, suggesting the lowest acceptable level.

almost irrelevant

Comes close to stating that something is irrelevant, but not quite.

incidentally relevant

Suggests that relevance is more of a coincidence than an inherent quality.

technically applicable

Implies that something is applicable in a formal sense, but not practically useful.

FAQs

What does "barely applicable" mean?

It means something is only slightly relevant or suitable in a particular situation, almost to the point of being irrelevant.

What are some synonyms for "barely applicable"?

Alternatives include "scarcely relevant", "hardly pertinent", or "marginally suitable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

Example: "The new regulations are "barely applicable" to our current operations, as they primarily target larger companies."

When is it more appropriate to use "irrelevant" instead of "barely applicable"?

"Irrelevant" is more appropriate when something has no connection or bearing on the situation at all. "Barely applicable" implies a minimal connection still exists.