barely change

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely change" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that has changed only a very small amount. For example, "The weather has barely changed since the beginning of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

The narrative voices barely change between stories.

The Guardian - Books

Absorbing little water, its weight, size and compliance barely change during a match.

The Economist

There was a time when he could barely change transmission oil.

The New York Times

The music Fearn provides is usually just a bass line matched with a drumbeat; many tracks barely change once they start.

The New Yorker

Our poor will change their buying habits a little, but the total demand for food from Britain and other rich countries will barely change.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is very little argument for his tax cut in terms of economic incentives, since much of it goes to reducing the marriage tax and the inheritance tax, which barely change incentives at all.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The surrounding countryside has barely changed since the church was built more than 1,000 years ago.

The New York Times - Travel

Interest rates were barely changed.

The New York Times

It was barely changed against the euro.

The New York Times

School test scores have barely changed.

The New York Times

Excluding food and energy, prices barely changed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely change" to convey that something remains largely the same despite some minor adjustments. For example, "The company's policy changes barely affect employee benefits."

Common error

Avoid using "barely change" when the changes are actually significant. It's inaccurate to say "The software barely changed" if major updates were implemented.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely change" functions as a verb phrase indicating a minimal degree of alteration or modification. It emphasizes that something remains largely the same. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

44%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely change" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote a minimal level of alteration. As indicated by Ludwig, its usage is versatile and spans across various contexts, notably in news and scientific domains. While it accurately communicates a sense of stability, it's crucial to ensure its appropriateness by avoiding its use when changes are substantial. Alternatives like "change very little" or "hardly alter" offer similar nuanced expressions for communicating the concept of minimal change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

change very little

Emphasizes the small degree of change.

hardly alter

Focuses on the lack of significant alteration.

scarcely transform

Highlights the minimal degree of transformation.

minimally adjust

Indicates a slight degree of adjustment.

remain almost the same

Highlights the lack of deviation from the original state.

stay virtually unchanged

Emphasizes the absence of significant change.

undergo negligible modification

Highlights the small scale of modification.

experience little variation

Focuses on the lack of variation.

shift imperceptibly

Highlights the minimal nature of shifting.

undergo a slight modification

Highlights the small scale of modification.

FAQs

How can I use "barely change" in a sentence?

You can use "barely change" to indicate that something has undergone very little modification. For example, "The recipe "barely changed" after years of use."

What are some alternatives to "barely change"?

Alternatives include phrases like "change very little", "hardly alter", or "remain almost the same", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "barely changed" or "barely change"?

Both can be correct, but "barely changed" is typically used in the past tense, while "barely change" is used in the present tense or with modal verbs. For example: "The regulations barely changed last year" vs "The regulations will barely change this year."

What's the difference between "barely change" and "slightly change"?

"Barely change" suggests a minimal amount of change, almost negligible. "Slightly change" indicates a small but noticeable alteration.