barely ever

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely ever" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used to emphasize how rarely something happens. Example: I barely ever have time to take a break from work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's barely ever there".

The New Yorker

He's barely ever home.

The New York Times - Arts

She barely ever looked at the coin.

The New Yorker

It was barely ever used before 1970.

The Guardian - Opinion

Wright barely ever spoke to him again.

The Guardian - Sport

In others, it is barely ever mentioned.

The New York Times

"I barely ever feel defeated in the theatre," he said.

The New Yorker

I can barely ever remember being paid within that time.

The Guardian

My mother did not like to cook and barely ever went into the kitchen.

The New York Times

His father, a philandering drunk, barely ever made it home for Christmas.

Independent

Sir Paul McCartney may no longer be a neighbour, but Adele still is (although Cook has barely ever seen her).

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely ever" to subtly emphasize the infrequency of an action or event, rather than using stronger terms like "never" which might be factually inaccurate.

Common error

Avoid replacing "barely ever" with absolutes like "never" when the situation allows for even the slightest possibility of occurrence. "Barely ever" acknowledges the possibility, however slim, of something happening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely ever" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the frequency of an action or state. As supported by Ludwig, it modifies verbs, adverbs, or adjectives to express that something happens infrequently. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying verbs like "go", "see", or "drink".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely ever" is a common adverbial phrase used to express that something happens infrequently. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts. While alternatives such as "hardly ever" and "scarcely ever" exist, "barely ever" strikes a balance between formality and casualness, making it suitable for diverse writing styles. Remember to avoid overstating by using "never" when "barely ever" more accurately reflects the possibility of an event's occurrence. With its prevalence in news media and scientific writing, understanding its proper usage is valuable for clear and nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly ever

Indicates a slightly stronger sense of infrequency than "barely ever".

scarcely ever

Similar to "hardly ever", emphasizing the rarity of an occurrence.

rarely

A more concise way to express that something doesn't happen often.

almost never

Highlights that something is close to never happening.

infrequently

A more formal way of saying something doesn't happen often.

seldom

Indicates that something occurs infrequently, often in a formal context.

not often

A straightforward way to express that something doesn't happen frequently.

hardly at all

Emphasizes the minimal occurrence of something, focusing on quantity or degree.

only occasionally

Indicates that something happens from time to time, but not regularly.

virtually never

Similar to 'almost never' but with an added sense of exaggeration.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely ever" to indicate that something happens very infrequently. For instance, "I "barely ever" go to the movies because I prefer reading books."

What phrases are similar to "barely ever"?

Similar phrases include "hardly ever", "scarcely ever", "rarely", or "almost never". These all express a low frequency of occurrence.

Is there a difference between "barely ever" and "never"?

Yes, "barely ever" suggests that something happens very infrequently but still occurs sometimes. "Never" indicates that something does not happen at all. Using "barely ever" implies less certainty than "never".

Which is more formal, "barely ever" or "rarely"?

"Rarely" is generally considered more formal than "barely ever". While both are suitable for most contexts, "rarely" may be preferred in academic or professional writing.