barely comes about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely comes about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that occurs with difficulty or is only achieved to a minimal extent. Example: "The project was so poorly planned that success barely comes about, despite everyone's efforts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Croatia barely comes in ahead at 62.

The New York Times

Musical taste barely comes into it.

Independent

Flavour barely comes into it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

and intelligence barely comes up.

The New York Times

Aesthetics barely came into it.

The New York Times

Sex barely came into it.

The Guardian

Outside, they have barely come under fire.

The Guardian

The individual flavors barely came through.

Los Angeles Times

He has barely come off the field this season.

Los Angeles Times

This didn't come about because of either optimism or pessimism, but because of persistence.Brazil has barely grown for the past few years.

The Economist

We're (barely) coming out of a scary recession, brought about in part -- I believe -- by a dearth of women at the top.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely comes about" to describe situations where success or occurrence is achieved with great difficulty or is just sufficient. It is best suited for emphasizing the narrow margin by which something happens.

Common error

Avoid using "barely comes about" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or sophisticated vocabulary might be expected. Consider alternatives like "rarely arises" or "infrequently happens" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely comes about" functions as an adverbial modifier describing how an event or outcome occurs. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and indicates an event that happens infrequently or with difficulty.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely comes about" is grammatically correct but infrequently used. It serves to emphasize the difficulty or infrequency with which something occurs. While Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, its rare appearance in diverse contexts suggests it's best employed when a subtle yet strong emphasis on the marginal nature of an event is desired. For more formal settings, alternatives like "rarely arises" might be more appropriate. As there are no example usages provided by Ludwig, understanding its best application requires careful consideration of context and desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly happens

Emphasizes the infrequency of the event, focusing on its rare occurrence.

scarcely occurs

Highlights the minimal chance or likelihood of the event taking place.

rarely arises

Suggests the event is uncommon and doesn't appear often.

infrequently happens

Directly states the event occurs not often.

seldom comes to pass

A more formal and literary way to express the rarity of an event happening.

barely materializes

Focuses on the idea that something almost doesn't become real or concrete.

almost never happens

Expresses the event's occurrence is close to never happening.

unlikely to occur

Indicates a low probability of the event happening.

scarcely comes to fruition

Highlights the lack of successful completion or realization of something.

hardly ever transpires

Suggests that the event almost never occurs in reality.

FAQs

How can I use "barely comes about" in a sentence?

The phrase "barely comes about" is used to describe something that happens infrequently or with difficulty. For example, "The project was so poorly planned that success "barely comes about", despite everyone's efforts."

What phrases are similar to "barely comes about"?

Similar phrases include "hardly happens", "scarcely occurs", or "rarely arises". These alternatives also convey the idea of something occurring infrequently.

Is "barely comes about" grammatically correct?

Yes, "barely comes about" is grammatically correct, although it is not a very common phrase. It is used to describe something that only just manages to occur or happen.

When should I use "barely comes about" instead of "rarely happens"?

Use "barely comes about" when you want to emphasize the difficulty or the narrow margin by which something occurs. "Rarely happens" is a more general statement about the infrequency of an event.