barely less than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely less than" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that one quantity or amount is just slightly lower than another. Example: "The population of the city is barely less than one million, making it one of the largest in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That is barely less than the assessed value of all taxable property.

The New York Times

A few thousand whites still own about 85% of the farmland, barely less than in 1994, when a mainly black government came to power.

The Economist

And then you come across a band like Yak, a three-piece whose live shows are a force of nature, and whose debut album is barely less than that.

The Guardian - Music

It was exhilarating stuff once more from them as they overcame the loss of two early wickets to Stuart Broad, enjoying an oddly successful match, and rattled along at a rate that for a while reached 10 runs per over and barely less than five throughout.

The Guardian - Sport

The average annual salary of a homecare pediatric nurse, for example, is $65,342 — barely less than the average household income for a whole family.

HuffPost

A two-bedroom unit on Grand Street, a key thoroughfare that cuts through East Williamsburg, had dropped $450 to $1,850 in barely less than a month.].

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

On Tuesday morning, the Associated Press officially declared Clinton the winner, barely edging out Sanders by just less than four state delegate equivalents, according to the state party, in what amounts to the closest result in Iowa Democratic caucus history.

Vice

But for many Poles, whose historical relations with Jews are barely less troubled than with Germans (though for quite different reasons), he epitomised a longed-for reconciliation.

The Economist

The West will tread gingerly into that, though NATO may step up its fairly uncontroversial defence training activities.Yet NATO is barely less divided than the EU.

The Economist

For this reason, the White House has been filmed and written about to the extent that it's barely less familiar than our own front rooms.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Add it all up and the VW board is barely less expensive than in 2014, when the company was still regarded as a beacon of engineering excellence.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely less than" to emphasize that the difference between two quantities is minimal and often inconsequential. This can add nuance when presenting comparative data or situations where the slight difference is noteworthy despite its small magnitude.

Common error

Avoid using "barely less than" when the difference between the quantities is substantial. This phrase is most effective when the values are close and the small difference is either surprising or strategically highlighted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely less than" functions as a comparative quantifier. It modifies a noun or noun phrase to indicate that a quantity is only slightly smaller than another. Ludwig AI shows that this construction is grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely less than" is a comparative phrase used to denote a small quantitative difference. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, with the majority of examples appearing in news and scientific publications. When writing, remember to use this phrase to emphasize the proximity of two values, highlighting that one is only marginally smaller than the other. Alternatives like "slightly smaller than" and "just under" can provide variety while conveying a similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely lower than

Maintains a formal tone similar to the original, using "scarcely".

slightly smaller than

Replaces "less" with its synonym "smaller", maintaining the comparative meaning.

only marginally below

Emphasizes the small degree of difference using "marginally".

not significantly less than

Highlights that the difference is not statistically or practically meaningful.

just a bit under

Uses more informal language to convey a slight difference.

a touch below

Uses informal language to suggest a minor decrement.

negligibly smaller than

Indicates the difference is so small it's almost insignificant.

almost as much as

Shifts the focus to the proximity of the two quantities from below.

virtually the same as

Implies near equality, which can be used when the difference is extremely small.

in the same ballpark as

Introduces an idiomatic expression to indicate approximate equality.

FAQs

What does "barely less than" mean?

The phrase "barely less than" indicates that one quantity or amount is only slightly smaller than another. It emphasizes the smallness of the difference.

How can I use "barely less than" in a sentence?

You can use it to compare two values, highlighting that one is only a little smaller, for example: "The cost was "barely less than" the estimate."

What are some alternatives to "barely less than"?

Alternatives include "slightly smaller than", "just under", or "almost as much as". The choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "barely less than" formal or informal?

The phrase "barely less than" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Its usage depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.