barely at all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely at all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is present to a very minimal extent or not at all. Example: "I tried to explain the concept, but he understood barely at all."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The children were divided into three groups: those who ate dinner as a family every day; most days, or barely at all.

The New York Times - Health

Barely at all.

The Washington Post

My grandmother I knew barely at all.

The New Yorker

Barely at all, as a matter of fact.

The New York Times

Sam In this economy you're either working 24/7 (you), or barely at all (me).

The New York Times

Even the Bank expects the boom in buy-to-let lending to slow barely at all.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Many northern cities are barely growing at all.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bryant, a walking contradiction if he did anything that slowly, is barely known at all.

The New York Times - Sports

But forecasts for 2010 see the American economy barely growing at all.

The Economist

But Mitchell barely mentions music at all.

The Guardian - Music

There's barely any light at all.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely at all" to emphasize a near absence or minimal impact. This phrasing is effective when you want to highlight the insignificance of something.

Common error

While "barely at all" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider using more precise or sophisticated alternatives like "negligibly" or "minimally" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely at all" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the minimal extent or degree to which something occurs or exists. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it emphasizes the lack of significant presence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely at all" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to express a near-zero quantity or effect. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across varied contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in register, consider more formal alternatives in academic writing. Remember, the key is to use "barely at all" when you want to emphasize the minimal presence or impact of something. Its alternatives include "hardly at all" and "scarcely at all".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly at all

Replaces "barely" with "hardly", maintaining near-identical meaning and impact.

scarcely at all

Substitutes "barely" with "scarcely", offering a slightly more formal alternative with equivalent meaning.

almost not at all

Expresses the idea of "barely at all" using a more descriptive structure, emphasizing the near absence.

virtually nothing

Conveys the same sense of minimal existence using a different phrasing focused on quantity.

next to nothing

Similar to "virtually nothing", this idiom emphasizes the extremely small amount or degree.

practically nothing

Another idiomatic expression stressing the near absence of something.

minimally

A concise adverb indicating that something exists only to a minimal degree.

negligibly

Highlights that something is so small it can be ignored or is unimportant.

to a slight extent

A more formal phrase expressing a small degree of presence or influence.

in a limited way

Emphasizes that something exists or occurs, but only within strict boundaries or confines.

FAQs

How can I use "barely at all" in a sentence?

You can use "barely at all" to indicate a minimal or near-zero presence or effect. For example, "The impact of the new policy was "barely at all" noticeable."

What are some alternatives to "barely at all"?

Some alternatives include "hardly at all", "scarcely at all", "almost not at all", or "virtually nothing", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "barely at all" considered formal or informal?

"Barely at all" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in a variety of contexts, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "barely at all" and "slightly"?

"Barely at all" implies a near absence or minimal degree, while "slightly" indicates a small but noticeable amount or effect. The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to place on the limited presence of something.