barely exceeding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely exceeding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is just above a certain limit or threshold, often implying that the difference is minimal. Example: "The temperature today is barely exceeding the average for this time of year, reaching only a few degrees above normal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Ray Flower: 1--2; ray barely exceeding involucre, 2- or 3-toothed, yellow.

University of California, Berkeley

The least expensive approach often involves barely exceeding the benchmarks, and not coming up with solutions that may cost more but dazzle consumers.

The New York Times

Because each set was short, approaching or barely exceeding the 40-minute mark, the evening felt more like an industry showcase than like a proper show.

The New York Times - Arts

In the 2000 township board race, tens of thousands of dollars from three political action committees flooded into an election normally financed by campaign budgets barely exceeding $1,000.

The New York Times

They are proud of having bought equipment and funded the design of a logo or the purchase of a domain name out of their savings, generally barely exceeding about €1,000.

The Guardian

Small time variations were observed barely exceeding a standard deviation of one dB, due to the presence of the people involved in the measurements.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In Ashford it barely exceeds 5%.

The Guardian

Real GDP growth this year will barely exceed 1%.

The Economist

In the last several years, it has barely exceeded zero.

The New York Times - Magazine

Two of those five barely exceeded their requirements.

The New York Times - Sports

The per capita income barely exceeds $1,000 a year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely exceeding", ensure the context clearly indicates what threshold is being exceeded and why the small margin is significant.

Common error

Avoid using "barely exceeding" when the amount by which something exceeds a threshold is not relevant or meaningful. If the excess is trivial, a more general term might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely exceeding" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is only just above a certain threshold. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely exceeding" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to denote that something surpasses a limit by a minimal amount. As Ludwig AI shows, its usage is considered correct across various contexts. While it appears most frequently in scientific and news-related sources, it maintains a fairly neutral register, making it suitable for formal and professional communications. When employing this phrase, ensure the small margin of excess is significant to the context. Alternatives include "slightly surpassing" or "just surpassing". Always consider the importance of the distinction when using "barely exceeding".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly surpassing

Focuses on the action of going beyond by a small amount, emphasizing a minimal lead.

just surpassing

Highlights the fact that something barely makes it over a certain threshold.

marginally exceeding

Emphasizes the small degree by which something is surpassed.

minimally surpassing

Emphasizes that the surpassing is done in the smallest possible way.

scarcely surpassing

Implies a sense of difficulty in exceeding the threshold, suggesting it barely happens.

hardly going over

Uses a different verb to convey exceeding, maintaining the meaning of 'barely'.

narrowly passing

Highlights the limited space by which something exceeds a limit.

faintly surpassing

Suggests that the exceedance is almost imperceptible, like a faint signal.

only just above

Breaks down the phrase to mean something is just over a defined point.

by a hair's breadth over

Figuratively describes that something has gone over by a tiny amount.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely exceeding" to indicate that something is only slightly above a certain level or limit. For example, "The company's profits are "barely exceeding" their expenses this quarter".

What's a synonym for "barely exceeding"?

Alternatives to "barely exceeding" include "slightly surpassing", "just surpassing", or "marginally exceeding". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "barely exceeding" in formal writing?

Yes, "barely exceeding" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to emphasize that something is only just above a specific threshold. Its formality is neutral and fits well in professional and academic contexts.

What's the difference between "barely exceeding" and "significantly exceeding"?

"Barely exceeding" indicates a minimal amount above a certain limit, while "significantly exceeding" suggests a considerable amount above that limit. The choice between the two depends on the magnitude of the difference you want to express.