barely better than

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely better than" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is only slightly or marginally better than something else. Example: The team's performance in the last game was barely better than their performance in the previous game. In this sentence, "barely better than" is used to compare the team's performance in two different games, emphasizing that there was not much improvement between the two.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

That is barely better than in devaluation-hit Brazil.

The Economist

In England, we would be considered part-timers, barely better than amateurs.

The New York Times

Their performance was abysmal: barely better than chance, and inferior even to simple computer algorithms.Why the difference?

The Economist

The answer is 52 percent — an outcome that is barely better than that of a coin flip.

The New York Times

Barack Obama received 55 percent of the vote there in 2008, barely better than the 53 percent he received nationwide.

The New York Times

(By contrast, the changing rooms at Alter are barely better than a bed sheet tied to a pipe).

The New York Times

Instead, he gives us broad strokes of history that are barely better than those available on Wikipedia.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

But that same belief won't protect you from the drug's harms, which are very real and may far outweigh the barely-better-than placebo benefit.

Huffington Post

57% just isn't good--barely better than a coin toss.

Huffington Post

Refugees flee to nearby countries, many of which are barely better off than their neighbors.

The New York Times

While the average British worker is barely better off than in 2008, wages for those at the top of British business have just kept soaring.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "barely better than" when comparing two similar entities to highlight the subtle differences between them. This is especially useful in comparative analyses.

Common error

Avoid using "barely better than" when a significant improvement has been made. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the difference is marginal or negligible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely better than" functions as a comparative expression, used to indicate that one thing is only slightly superior to another. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in contexts ranging from performance evaluations to product comparisons, all highlighting minimal degrees of improvement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely better than" is a commonly used phrase to express that something is only slightly superior. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts. It's crucial to use it accurately when highlighting minimal improvements, avoiding overstatements of progress. Alternatives such as "marginally superior to" or "slightly exceeding" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. When writing, remember that this phrase is best used to manage expectations and convey a sense of underwhelming progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

marginally superior to

Highlights a small degree of improvement.

slightly exceeding

Emphasizes a minor outperformance.

hardly surpassing

Indicates minimal progress or advantage.

scarcely exceeding

Focuses on the small margin of difference.

a shade above

Suggests a very slight degree of improvement.

a notch higher than

Implies a small step up in quality or performance.

minimally exceeding

Stresses the very low level of improvement.

virtually indistinguishable from

Highlights the difficulty in noticing any actual improvement.

almost imperceptibly better than

Emphasizes that the positive difference is extremely difficult to perceive.

a hair better than

Uses informal language to indicate a tiny margin.

FAQs

How can I use "barely better than" in a sentence?

You can use "barely better than" to describe something that shows a slight improvement over something else. For example, "His second attempt was "barely better than" his first."

What's a good alternative to "barely better than"?

Alternatives include "marginally superior to", "slightly exceeding", or "hardly surpassing". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "barely better than"?

Yes, "barely better than" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English to indicate a slight improvement or advantage.

What's the difference between "barely better than" and "significantly better than"?

"Barely better than" indicates a small or negligible improvement, while "significantly better than" suggests a considerable and noticeable difference.