barely because of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely because of" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that something is only slightly true or valid due to a specific reason, but it is not commonly used. Example: "She passed the exam barely because of her last-minute studying."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Occasionally, a play that should die from its self-inflicted wounds avoids flat-lining — if just barely — because of a cast and crew applying furious life support.

The New York Times

According to its biggest investor, Oak Hill REIT Management's short fund stayed out of the red, if barely, because of its long picks and also a position in an S&P 500 fund.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Over all, the state's leftward lean has increased just barely because as parts of the Philadelphia suburbs moved left, the old mining and mill towns in southwestern Pennsylvania moved right.

The New York Times

He could barely read because of dyslexia.

The New York Times

The same could apply to Rodriguez, who can barely run because of a strained left hamstring.

The New York Times - Sports

On that Sunday, Mr. O'Farrill could barely speak because of a bout of laryngitis, but was still his jovial self.

The New York Times

Profit barely grew because of a slump in visitors to Alton Towers, where a rollercoaster crash injured 16 people in June.

The Guardian - Business

The Environment Agency has revealed that parts of inland waterways in England and Wales are on the danger list with spring barely begun because of "abstraction pressures".

Independent

Dressed in a light-blue suit, the general, who barely campaigned because of security concerns, came to the voting station accompanied by scores of soldiers and police officers.

The New York Times

Mr. Bronfman's credibility has been badly tarnished as his family's $3 billion fortune has dwindled to barely $1 billion because of Vivendi's fading shares.

The New York Times

Ms. Kipper's legs and arms grew numb in 1995, she explained, and she soon could barely walk because of the pain in her back and legs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "barely because of" with quantitative data, if possible, to add more substance and accuracy to your writing. For example: "Sales increased barely because of the new marketing campaign, showing only a 2% improvement."

Common error

Avoid using "barely because of" when the stated cause is actually the primary or only reason. This phrase can create a misleading impression of a limited effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely because of" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a clause that explains a cause or reason, but emphasizes its limited influence. Based on Ludwig's analysis, while not grammatically incorrect, it is not the most common or preferred construction for expressing causality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely because of" is a causal connector used to indicate that something is only slightly influenced by a particular cause. Ludwig indicates that although grammatically acceptable, it's not a commonly used phrase and is less clear than alternatives such as "only slightly due to". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with less common usage in formal business or encyclopedia settings. While the source quality is reasonably high, it's crucial to consider that this phrase should be used when the intended meaning is to minimize the influence of the stated cause, and should be avoided when the causal relationship is stronger. Use with caution to ensure clarity and avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely affected by

Stresses the limited change or consequence stemming from the given cause.

Just a little because of

Clarifies that the cause contributed only to a small extent.

Somewhat influenced by

Implies the cause has a certain degree of effect, although not a great one.

Slightly due to

Indicates a minimal level of causation; the impact of the cause is small.

Slightly determined by

Suggests that a condition contributes to something but doesn't fully cause it.

Minimally as a result of

Suggests the outcome was influenced to a very small degree by the reason.

Marginally on account of

Emphasizes a very small degree of influence or effect as the cause.

Scarcely impacted by

Points out the limited impact of the reason on the situation.

Hardly attributable to

Highlights the difficulty in directly linking the result to the stated cause.

Trivially since

Indicates a connection that is of very little importance.

FAQs

What does "barely because of" mean?

The phrase "barely because of" indicates that something is only marginally or slightly influenced by a specific cause. It suggests the cause had a minimal effect.

How can I use "barely because of" in a sentence?

You can use "barely because of" to show that a cause had a slight or negligible impact. For example: "The project succeeded "partially due to" good planning, but "barely because of" the increased budget."

Which is more appropriate, "slightly because of" or "barely because of"?

Both phrases imply a minimal impact, but "barely because of" suggests an even smaller effect than "slightly because of". Choose the phrase that best reflects the true extent of the cause's influence.

What are some alternatives to "barely because of"?

Alternatives include phrases like "only slightly due to", "marginally as a result of", or "hardly attributable to". These all indicate a small degree of causality.