barely consider

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely consider" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone is giving very little thought or attention to something. Example: "He barely considers the consequences of his actions before making a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The current curricula for chemists' and engineers' education barely consider environmental sustainability as its own component.

Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry

And our political and military leaders barely consider these numbers anyway.

The New York Times

Many critics cite wildly exaggerated estimates of the costs of the bill and barely consider the economic benefits.

The New York Times

In this context, while usability is crucial in the development of successful websites, many barely consider the recommendations of experts in order to build usable designs.

Journal of Systems and Software

Current state of practice reveals that pavement managers barely consider environmental performance and their evaluations solely rely on technical and economic criteria.

Journal of Cleaner Production

"If I see a space that's two inches bigger than my car," he said, "I barely consider it a challenge".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

He is barely considering an upset.

Independent

However, the field so far has barely considered religion.

Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions

Coughlin barely considered that idea against the Patriots.

The New York Times - Sports

I called, barely considering how she might respond.

The New York Times

However, the handshaking process for data link establishment is barely considered.

Journal of Network and Computer Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely consider", ensure that the context clearly indicates a lack of significant thought or attention, rather than complete ignorance. Use it to show a conscious, though minimal, assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "barely consider" when you mean complete disregard. The phrase implies some level of awareness, however minimal. For complete disregard, use "ignore" or "disregard" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely consider" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of minimal consideration. It suggests a low degree of attention or thought given to something. Ludwig's examples show its usage in diverse contexts, emphasizing a lack of thorough assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely consider" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to express that someone gives very little thought or attention to something. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is applicable across various contexts, especially in news, science, and academic writing. While indicating minimal consideration, it's important to differentiate it from complete disregard. Related phrases like "give little consideration to" or "hardly take into account" offer similar meanings. When employing "barely consider", ensure the context underscores a conscious but minimal assessment, rather than complete oversight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give little consideration to

Highlights the small amount of attention given.

pay minimal attention to

Focuses on the lack of focus or attention.

hardly take into account

Indicates a slight shift towards neglecting something entirely.

scarcely give thought to

Emphasizes the infrequency of thinking about something.

neglect to think about

Highlights the omission of thinking about something.

lightly regard

Suggests a superficial or non-serious assessment.

skim over

Implies a brief and cursory examination.

gloss over

Suggests deliberately avoiding detailed discussion.

overlook

Means to fail to notice something.

disregard

Implies intentionally ignoring something.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely consider" to indicate that someone gives very little thought to something. For example, "They "barely consider" the environmental impact of their actions".

What can I say instead of "barely consider"?

You can use alternatives like "give little consideration to", "hardly take into account", or "scarcely give thought to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hardly consider" instead of "barely consider"?

Yes, "hardly consider" is a valid alternative to "barely consider". Both phrases convey a similar meaning of giving minimal thought to something.

What is the difference between "barely consider" and "overlook"?

"Barely consider" implies some minimal level of awareness and thought, whereas "overlook" means to completely fail to notice or consider something.