barely constituted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely constituted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is formed or established to a minimal extent, often implying that it lacks substance or completeness. Example: "The committee was barely constituted, with only two members present at the first meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I am putting it as kindly as I can when I say Blair's fine words barely constituted a half-truth.

The Guardian - Opinion

When forced to defend it in Question Period, the Liberals offered a series of nonsensical gibberish that barely constituted talking points to argue that, by limiting the powers of individual MPs, they were improving democracy and increasing room for debate.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Put together, they barely constitute one of Alpe d'Huez's 21 hairpin stretches.

The New York Times - Sports

Watergate – now more or less synonymous with the entire administration – barely constitutes background noise until almost the end of the affair.

The Guardian - Film

A porn actress can make 2 to 3 thousand dollars for 20 minutes of what barely constitutes work.

Vice

This would mean straight couples, who've been filing joint tax returns for years -- even though they hardly speak to one another and only have sex on the first Tuesday of every month, which barely constitutes a marriage, anyway -- would now be forced to legally admit their boring love life and file separately.

Huffington Post

Terlizzi's clumsy jump near Giampaolo Pazzini barely even constituted a foul.

The Guardian - Sport

Coen's play barely even constitutes a rough draft for a one act.

Huffington Post

In the event, the Gendarmerie that was finally deployed with as much aplomb as disappointment in late August was barely 5,000-strong 5,000-strongted anda division of the Federal Policonstitutedhe imprasticalities of such a small force being indivisiont.

Huffington Post

The 85,000 participants constitute barely one-sixth of Malaysia's 17-year-olds.

The Economist

But commerce between the two countries still constitutes barely 5percentt of Jordan's total foreign trade and less than 1percentt of Israel's, Jordanians note, while Jordan's exports to its former territory in the West Bank have fallen to a fraction of their former levels.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely constituted", ensure the context clearly conveys the idea of something being minimally or insufficiently formed. This phrase is effective when emphasizing the lack of substance or completeness.

Common error

Avoid using "barely constituted" when the subject is reasonably well-formed or established. The phrase is most appropriate when there's a significant deficiency or lack of completeness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely constituted" functions as a descriptive term, indicating that something exists in a minimal or incomplete state. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely constituted" is used to describe something minimally formed or established. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its occurrence is rare, primarily in news and media contexts. Alternatives like "scarcely formed" or "hardly established" offer similar meanings. When employing "barely constituted", ensure that the context effectively highlights the lack of completeness or substance you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just barely formed

Adds emphasis to the minimal nature of the formation.

scarcely formed

Emphasizes the minimal level of formation or creation.

hardly established

Focuses on the lack of firm establishment or foundation.

almost not established

Highlights the near absence of establishment.

marginally composed

Highlights the slight or insufficient composition of something.

virtually unformed

Emphasizes the lack of formation or development.

thinly constructed

Suggests a weak or flimsy construction.

inadequately composed

Focuses on the insufficient or poor quality of the composition.

only nominally created

Indicates that something exists in name only, without real substance.

faintly organized

Suggests a very weak or minimal level of organization.

FAQs

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

Use "barely constituted" to describe something that has been formed or established to a minimal degree. For example, "The committee was "barely constituted", with only two members present".

What are some alternatives to "barely constituted"?

Alternatives include "scarcely formed", "hardly established", or "marginally composed", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "barely constituted"?

Yes, "barely constituted" is grammatically correct and can be used to describe something that is formed or established to a minimal extent, often implying a lack of substance or completeness, according to Ludwig AI.

What does "barely constituted" imply about the subject it describes?

It suggests that the subject is at the very beginning stages of formation, or that it lacks sufficient elements to be considered fully formed or complete.