barely impossible to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely impossible to" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in a context where something is extremely difficult, but the phrasing is contradictory. Example: "The task was barely impossible to complete within the given time frame."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Considering the current state of affairs, it is barely impossible to reduce emissions without relying on CO2 capture and sequestration technologies.

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

Since the system states are difficult or barely impossible to be accurately measured, an observer based control law is proposed to guarantee system stability, meanwhile, an H2/H∞ index is employed for further improving the control performance.

Engineering Structures

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And then they became aware of a sound, barely audible and impossible to identify from where they stood.

The Guardian - Books

Given in concert version, the resulting barely motivated acting was impossible to imagine in fuller staging.

The New York Times - Arts

Meredith Whitney of Oppenheimer has calculated that banks may have to write off $10.1 billion of the paper they insured with ACA.Because the CDS market is barely regulated, it is impossible to know how much of this monoline "counterparty risk" banks are exposed to.

The Economist

Barely trained teachers find it impossible to implement the government's ambitious national curriculum.

The Economist

The women with red hair are barely peppered throughout the audience, but impossible to ignore.

Huffington Post

Second, and maybe related, many more children grew up in cold and emotionally distant homes, where fathers, in particular, barely knew their children and found it impossible to express their love for them.

The New York Times

Even telephone calls drop repeatedly and are often barely audible, while network congestion means it is impossible to use a smartphone even in parts of the capital, Delhi.

The Guardian

We live with this 24 hours a day and can barely think of anything else and it's impossible to plan anything or to feel happy when you know what might lie ahead.

Independent

The barely submerged theme of such reports was that it was impossible to comprehend that a product of Western civilization could endorse such monstrous behavior by her spouse.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "almost impossible to" or "nearly impossible to" instead of "barely impossible to" for clearer and more standard English. The alternatives avoid the potential contradiction in terms.

Common error

Be cautious about combining "barely" with "impossible," as "barely" suggests a minimal level of possibility, while "impossible" denotes no possibility. This can create a confusing or ironic effect if not intended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely impossible to" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe the extent to which something approaches impossibility. Though, as Ludwig AI points out, it's a non-standard construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely impossible to" is an uncommon and somewhat contradictory expression used to describe something extremely difficult, nearing impossibility. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is not a standard English construction, making it potentially confusing for readers. While grammatically acceptable, it is semantically questionable due to the combination of "barely" and "impossible". Alternatives such as "almost impossible to" or "nearly impossible to" are generally preferred for clarity and precision. Use the phrase cautiously, as it may come across as hyperbolic or ironic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost impossible to

Emphasizes near impossibility, a slightly stronger alternative.

nearly impossible to

Similar to 'almost impossible', indicating a very low probability.

virtually impossible to

Highlights the practical impossibility of something.

hardly possible to

Indicates a low likelihood or chance of success.

scarcely possible to

Suggests something is possible but extremely unlikely.

borderline impossible to

Implies that something is very close to being completely impossible.

just about impossible to

Focuses on the fact that it is almost beyond the realms of possibility.

tantamount to impossible

Indicates that something is equivalent to being impossible.

not far from impossible

Suggests proximity to impossibility, indicating a high level of difficulty.

approaching impossibility

Expresses the trend or direction towards impossibility.

FAQs

What does "barely impossible to" mean?

The phrase "barely impossible to" is not a standard English expression. It suggests something is almost impossible but the phrasing can be contradictory and confusing. It could imply something is extremely difficult but not entirely out of the question.

Is "barely impossible to" grammatically correct?

While grammatically sound, "barely impossible to" is semantically awkward. It combines a word suggesting a slight possibility ("barely") with one denying it entirely ("impossible"). Consider using phrases like "almost impossible to" or "nearly impossible to" for clearer communication.

What are some alternatives to "barely impossible to"?

Alternatives include "almost impossible to", "virtually impossible to", or "hardly possible to". These options more clearly convey the intended meaning of something being very difficult or unlikely.

How to use "barely impossible to" in a sentence?

While not recommended for formal writing, you might use "barely impossible to" to express that something is so difficult it's practically impossible. For example: "The task was "barely impossible to" complete within the given timeframe."