barely as good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely as good" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare two things, indicating that one is only slightly less good than the other. Example: "The sequel was barely as good as the original film, but it still had its moments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Now they have batsmen in their side who are barely as good as 1980s Essex journeyman Don Topley.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Druckerman states that French mothers "barely breast-feed," confident that artificial milk is just as good.

The New York Times - Books

Send out CVs with ethnic-minority-sounding names, and the response from employers is barely half as good as the response to CVs with white-sounding names.The result is a book that does not really accomplish what it sets out to achieve.

The Economist

Since One for the Rose (1981), his style has remained constant: the same columnar page-and-a-half poem with arbitrary line breaks, composed in the same flat tone barely qualifying as good prose, and ending in spry epiphanic bursts.

Huffington Post

The little things matter most- like getting him/her a gift of their b-day (something you KNOW they'll like) and complimenting them on something they barely noted as good (ex: their hair. Maybe it looks a mess to them, but not to you).

WikiHow

On both counts, solid-state lighting has some way to go.The best white LEDs on the market emit 25 lm/W, which is almost twice as efficient as an equivalent tungsten-filament light bulb, but barely a third as good as a fluorescent tube.

The Economist

It was a heartbreaking political song because it barely looked up from personal concerns; as good as Guthrie, but Springsteen's own.

Independent

A recent statewide study in California found that barely 20percentt of preschool classrooms qualified as good based on observation with the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale Revised Edition with less than 10percentt of private child care centers scoring good or better (Karoly, Ghosh-Dastidar, Zellman, Perlman, & Fernyhough, 2008).

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

It doesn't help that a product can come close to exceeding or just barely offering a vitamin or nutrient and still be sold as good for you.

Forbes

He barely moved the needle in the US but on his best day he was as good as any ever".

The Guardian - Sport

Arguing that the housing was barely livable before the flooding unleashed by Hurricane Katrina, federal officials have cast their decision as good social policy.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely as good" to make a nuanced comparison, highlighting that something falls just short of a desired standard but still holds some merit. This is particularly useful when avoiding overly negative or harsh criticism.

Common error

Avoid using "barely as good" when there's a significant difference in quality. The phrase implies a close comparison, so reserve it for situations where the difference is slight. Overusing it can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely as good" functions as a qualifier in comparative statements. According to Ludwig, it describes something that is only slightly inferior to something else, indicating that the difference in quality is minimal. The examples show its use in comparing batsmen, prose, and even light bulbs.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely as good" is a useful phrase for making subtle comparisons, indicating that something is only slightly less good than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. It's best used when the difference in quality is minimal to avoid overstating a deficiency. While versatile, be mindful of the context and consider alternatives like "almost as good" or "nearly as good" to achieve the desired nuance. This phrase is frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources, maintaining a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as good

Indicates a near equivalence in quality, lacking only a small margin.

nearly as good

Similar to 'almost as good', emphasizing a slight shortfall in quality.

just about as good

Highlights that the quality is on the cusp of being equal.

scarcely as good

Emphasizes the marginal quality, with 'scarcely' highlighting the minimal level of goodness.

hardly as good

Indicates that the comparison subject is notably inferior but still possesses some value.

not quite as good

Directly states a deficiency in quality without hyperbole.

a shade less good

Implies the difference is very subtle and possibly negligible.

a touch less effective

Focuses more on the aspect of effectiveness rather than overall quality.

slightly inferior

Uses a more formal tone to express a minor difference in quality.

marginally better

Expresses equivalence with a nuanced consideration that, albeit one being nearly equivalent, the other one is a little better.

FAQs

How can I use "barely as good" in a sentence?

You can use "barely as good" to indicate something is just shy of being of equal quality or effectiveness. For example, "The sequel was "barely as good" as the original, but it still had some redeeming qualities."

What are some alternatives to saying "barely as good"?

Some alternatives include "almost as good", "nearly as good", or "not quite as good", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "barely as good" a formal or informal expression?

"Barely as good" is generally considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, be mindful of your audience and choose more precise language if necessary.

What is the difference between "barely as good" and "not nearly as good"?

"Barely as good" implies a slight difference in quality, while "not nearly as good" suggests a more significant disparity. The choice depends on the degree of difference you want to emphasize.