barely keep up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely keep up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is struggling to maintain pace or stay informed with something, such as work or trends. Example: "With all the new developments in technology, I can barely keep up with the latest updates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Connecticut voters, meanwhile, could barely keep up.

The New York Times

I can barely keep up.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They can barely keep up with their e-mail correspondence".

The New York Times - Tech

As it is, she said, she can barely keep up with issuing permits.

The New York Times

The Boeing company could barely keep up with demand for its airliners.

The Economist

Its main construction firm, Khatam al-Anbya, could barely keep up with the workload.

The Economist

Overtapped by drought and development, Santa Fe's current water supply can barely keep up with demand.

The New York Times

But athletically, Ewing can barely keep up with this young, warp-speed N.B.A. unfolding.

The New York Times - Sports

Initially, she was exuberant, speaking so rapidly that an interpreter could barely keep up.

The New York Times - Health

To my left, a Global Positioning System navigation set could barely keep up with our progress.

The New York Times - Sports

Even when Random House took over as publisher, they could barely keep up.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about industries or markets, use "barely keep up" to describe situations where supply or production is struggling to meet increasing demand.

Common error

Avoid using "barely keep up" when you intend to convey ease or moderate effort. The phrase indicates a significant struggle, so consider alternatives like "easily manage" or "comfortably maintain" if the effort is less strenuous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely keep up" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of near-failure to maintain pace or stay informed. It expresses difficulty in keeping abreast with demands, progress, or information, as shown in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely keep up" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe difficulty in maintaining pace or staying informed. Ludwig's AI confirms its usability across diverse contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, it conveys a struggle to remain aligned with progress or demand. To ensure proper usage, remember that it indicates significant effort, and avoid using it when describing ease. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "struggle to maintain pace". With its consistent usage and clear meaning, "barely keep up" is a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can hardly keep up

This alternative uses "hardly" instead of "barely", conveying a very similar meaning.

struggle to maintain pace

This alternative emphasizes the effort involved in trying to stay aligned with a certain speed or progress.

find it hard to keep pace

This phrase highlights the difficulty experienced when attempting to match a certain rhythm or progress.

find it tough to keep up

This alternative uses 'tough' to emphasize the difficulty.

scarcely manage to stay current

This option underscores the minimal success in remaining up-to-date with the latest information or trends.

only just manage to keep pace

This highlights the marginal success in maintaining speed or progress with difficulty.

have difficulty keeping abreast

This variant emphasizes challenges in staying informed about new developments or changes.

can just about manage

This highlights managing with difficulty.

find it challenging to follow

This focuses on the difficulty in understanding or keeping track of something.

grapple with staying informed

This option underlines the ongoing struggle to keep up with available data.

FAQs

How can I use "barely keep up" in a sentence?

You can use "barely keep up" to describe a struggle to maintain pace, understand complex information, or meet demands. For instance, "With all the new information, I can "barely keep up"."

What's a formal alternative to "barely keep up"?

In formal contexts, you can replace "barely keep up" with phrases like "struggle to maintain pace" or "encounter difficulty in staying abreast of". These alternatives convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

What can I say instead of "barely keep up"?

You can use alternatives like "struggle to maintain pace", "hardly manage to stay current", or "find it hard to keep pace" depending on the context.

Is "barely keep up" the same as "easily keep up"?

No, "barely keep up" indicates a struggle or difficulty in maintaining pace, while "easily keep up" suggests the opposite - maintaining pace with little to no effort. They have contrasting meanings.