barely as many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely as many" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to compare quantities, indicating that one quantity is only slightly less than another. Example: "There were barely as many attendees this year as there were last year, which was surprising given the increased marketing efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But the unimpressive performance of the Liberal Democrats stood as a potential obstacle to that plan, since a Liberal Democrat bloc of about 60 seats would be likely to leave Labour and the Liberal Democrats together with barely as many seats as the Conservatives.

The New York Times

It was his third trip to a park in barely as many weeks, a campaign in which he seeks to bolster his credentials as a friend of the environment.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

So has its furniture industry; in 2009 it employed barely half as many people as it had just two decades earlier.In 1977 those three industries tobacco, textiles and furniture produced around 22% of the state's GDP; in 2005 their share was just 7%.

The Economist

Switzerland is actually second among wealthy countries in terms of annual gun deaths (0.77 per 100,000 of population in one recent survey, versus 2.97 in the US and just 0.07 in England and Wales) but has barely half as many guns per 100 people (45.7 versus 88.8 in the US).

The Guardian

Mrs Clinton had barely half as many cyberpals, while the Republicans were nowhere.

The Economist

Today there are barely half as many Jesuits at Georgetown, the order's flagship university.

The Washington Post

Harrison Ford, for instance, has been in movies for ever, but has appeared in barely half as many as Buscemi.

The Guardian - Film

The Nov. 29 episode drew only 2.4 million total viewers, barely half as many as the 4.7 million who watched the Season 6 premiere on Oct. 4.

The New York Times

The Chinese sent 10,000 policemen to a southern town last week to crush a demonstration that involved barely half as many participants.

The Economist

Liverpool and Glasgow have barely half as many inhabitants now as they had at their peaks in the middle of the 20th century.

The Guardian

Barely half as many Englishmen played in the Premiership last year as Spaniards did in La Liga or Frenchmen did in Ligue 1. Local players represent an even smaller share of the core talent on the EPL's best clubs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely as many" when you want to emphasize that a quantity is only slightly less than another, creating a sense of near equality but with a noticeable difference.

Common error

Avoid using "barely as many" when the difference is substantial. The phrase works best when the quantities are close, and overstating the difference can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely as many" functions as a quantifier phrase used for comparison. It indicates that one quantity is only slightly less than another. As noted by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. This conveys a sense of near equality but acknowledges a notable difference.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely as many" is a grammatically correct way to express that one quantity is only slightly less than another. According to Ludwig, the expression is correct and usable in written English. While "barely as many" is not a highly frequent expression, it is commonly found in news and media contexts. When using "barely as many", ensure that the quantities being compared are indeed close; otherwise, consider using alternative phrases such as "almost as many" or "scarcely as many" to maintain accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost as many

Indicates a quantity is close to being equal, differing slightly from the QUERY by emphasizing the near equality.

scarcely as many

Similar to the original phrase, emphasizes the smallness of the quantity. More formal.

hardly as many

Shares a similar meaning, highlighting the deficiency in quantity. Implies a stronger sense of lack compared to the QUERY.

just about as many

Implies the quantities are very close, with only a negligible difference. Adds a sense of approximation.

virtually as many

Indicates that for all practical purposes, the quantities are equal, though technically they might not be. Changes the focus to equivalence.

next to as many

Suggests that the quantities are close, with minimal separation. Less formal.

not quite as many

Directly states that one quantity is less than another, without emphasizing how close they are. Neutral.

little more than

Focuses on the small excess over a certain amount, shifting the comparison.

only just as many

Stresses the narrow margin by which one quantity matches another. Adds an element of surprise.

roughly the same number

Indicates an approximation of equality in numerical terms, moving away from a strict comparison.

FAQs

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

Use "barely as many" to compare two quantities, indicating one is only slightly less than the other. For example, "There were "barely as many" attendees this year as there were last year".

What phrases are similar to "barely as many"?

Similar phrases include "almost as many", "scarcely as many", or "hardly as many", each conveying a close but not equal comparison.

Is it correct to say "not barely as many"?

While grammatically understandable, "not barely as many" is an uncommon construction. It is clearer to express the intended meaning directly, such as by saying "considerably fewer" or "significantly less".

How does "barely as many" differ from "just as many"?

"Barely as many" suggests a slight deficit, while "just as many" implies equality or a very close approximation. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the small difference or the near-equivalence.