barely intelligible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely intelligible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that can only be understood with difficulty. For example, "When I called him, his voice was barely intelligible, making it hard to understand what he was saying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

He made no effort to better himself, despite his evident intelligence, or to improve a barely intelligible English or to reach out to fellow immigrants in their gradual rise.

The New York Times - Books

That number may be barely intelligible to the casual observer.

The Washington Post

His voice, barely intelligible, was testing its uppermost register.

The New York Times

From up here, though, a human's movement is a barely intelligible thing.

The New Yorker

Her words, barely intelligible, were like soft formations carved from her teeth and lips.

The Guardian

In the middle of the group, a small Yanomami man was shouting in halting, barely intelligible Spanish.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Pixação – as the city's tagging style is known - has many opponents in São Paulo, who draw a distinction between its barely-intelligible scrawls and more conventional graffiti art.

The Guardian

CNBC's Rick Santelli, the man whose barely-intelligible cri de coeur brought this whole thing about, will not be participating in any tea parties on tax day.

Huffington Post

It sounds like it was recorded underwater; a slow machine beat chugs through layers of murky chords and a muffled vocal sample of a deep male voice saying barely-intelligible things like "on a social level, on a people level," and "what you believe, how you really feel".

Vice

Most are what one would expect from a new internet medium: nerdy, inane and barely grammatical, and intelligible only to teenage subcultures.

The Economist

Or making hugely formal (framed) works out of automatic scribbles, barely legible, or intelligible, as if their 'meanings' could be rationalised, decoded.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely intelligible", specify the reason for the lack of intelligibility (e.g., accent, noise, technical jargon) to provide more context for the reader.

Common error

While "barely intelligible" is acceptable, consider more precise or formal alternatives like "scarcely comprehensible" or "hardly understandable" for academic or professional contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely intelligible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a low degree of comprehensibility. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes something that is understood only with difficulty. It is used to qualify nouns like 'speech', 'words', 'recording', or 'writing'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Encyclopedias

13%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely intelligible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase, primarily found in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki sources. As Ludwig AI explains, it is employed to describe something that is difficult to understand, whether due to pronunciation, noise, or complexity. While generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "scarcely comprehensible" in academic or professional contexts. When using "barely intelligible", specifying the reason for the lack of clarity enhances the reader's understanding. Related phrases include "hardly understandable" and "scarcely comprehensible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly understandable

Emphasizes the difficulty in understanding something, focusing on the lack of clarity.

scarcely comprehensible

Highlights the limited ability to grasp the meaning, suggesting a near impossibility of understanding.

almost incomprehensible

Similar to "scarcely comprehensible", this phrase points out how something is difficult to understand.

nearly unintelligible

Indicates that something is on the verge of being impossible to understand.

difficult to make out

Focuses on the effort required to discern the meaning, implying a lack of distinctness.

poorly articulated

Suggests that the lack of clarity stems from the way something is expressed, rather than the complexity of the content itself.

muddled

Highlights the confused or disordered nature of something, making it hard to follow.

murky

Uses a metaphor to describe a lack of clarity, suggesting that the meaning is obscured or clouded.

obscure

Emphasizes the hidden or vague nature of something, making it difficult to perceive or understand.

incoherent

Points to a lack of logical connection or consistency, resulting in a lack of understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely intelligible" to describe something that is difficult to understand. For example, "His accent made his speech "barely intelligible"" or "The recording was so distorted that the words were "barely intelligible"".

What are some synonyms for "barely intelligible"?

Alternatives to "barely intelligible" include "hardly understandable", "scarcely comprehensible", or "almost incomprehensible".

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

While grammatically correct, "barely intelligible" may be considered less formal. In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "scarcely comprehensible" or "difficult to decipher".

What makes something "barely intelligible"?

Something might be "barely intelligible" due to factors such as poor pronunciation, excessive noise, technical jargon, or a complex or disorganized structure.