barely performed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely performed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or task that was completed with minimal effort or success. Example: "The team barely performed during the last quarter, resulting in disappointing sales figures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Apparently she'd barely performed live until last year, but has since supported Graham Coxon.

The Guardian - Music

Though he had barely performed or released a record in the final eight years of his life – and had fallen hundreds of millions of dollars into debt – his estate now has an estimated value of half a billion dollars.

Independent

Therefore, the re-allocation in PHR-PERA is barely performed for the FUEs.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The film barely performed better than "The Master," Paul Thomas Anderson's drama that played this weekend in only 788 theaters, while "Dredd" screened in roughly 2,500 locations.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Carreras now barely performs at all.

The Guardian - Music

Battered by the downturn, states can barely perform the core functions they have.

The New York Times

Tens of thousands of enemy machines have simultaneously deluged Spamhaus's computers with so much meaningless data that they can barely perform their intended missions.

The New York Times

He barely performs tonight: instead he conducts his remarkable musicians, peering over his spectacles like an encouraging teacher, flailing his arms and occasionally dancing along.

The Guardian - Music

The Medicare agency, which can barely perform all its existing responsibilities, will face immense challenges in getting the new program started by January.

The New York Times

The severity of the disease varies greatly, but a recent survey of patients revealed that many are so short of breath that they can barely perform basic daily activities.

The New York Times - Health

"More often than not, the 'undercover boss' can barely perform the tasks she or he is supposed to be learning," according to On The Edge author and mountain climber, Alison Levine.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely performed", ensure the context clearly indicates the minimal or inadequate nature of the performance. This phrase is effective when emphasizing a lack of success or effort.

Common error

Avoid using "barely performed" when you mean "not performed at all". The phrase indicates that the action did occur, but to a very limited extent, not that it was entirely absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely performed" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate that an action was carried out to a minimal extent. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples from Ludwig show its use in describing minimal effort or success in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely performed" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe actions carried out with minimal effort or success. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's usable in written English and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While grammatically correct, it's essential to use the phrase accurately, ensuring the context reflects minimal execution rather than complete absence of action. Alternative phrases like "scarcely executed" or "hardly accomplished" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely executed

Replaces "performed" with "executed", emphasizing the action was carried out to a minimal extent.

hardly accomplished

Substitutes "performed" with "accomplished", highlighting the lack of achievement or completion.

minimally executed

Uses "minimally" instead of "barely", directly indicating the action was done to the smallest degree.

only just carried out

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which the action was completed.

negligibly performed

Replaces "barely" with "negligibly", suggesting the performance was so small as to be insignificant.

faintly executed

Indicates that the action of performing was weak or indistinct.

inadequately carried out

Focuses on the insufficient nature of the performance.

sketchily done

Implies that the performance was superficial and lacking in detail.

superficially performed

Highlights that the performance lacked depth and thoroughness.

nominally completed

Suggests that the performance was completed in name only, with little real substance.

FAQs

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

Use "barely performed" to describe an action that was completed with minimal effort or success. For example: "The athlete "barely performed" during the competition, resulting in a low score."

What are some alternatives to "barely performed"?

You can use alternatives like "scarcely executed", "hardly accomplished", or "minimally executed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "barely performed at all"?

While understandable, "barely performed at all" can be redundant. "Barely performed" already implies a minimal level of performance. Consider rephrasing for clarity, or use "hardly performed" instead.

What is the difference between "barely performed" and "poorly performed"?

"Barely performed" emphasizes the lack of execution or minimal effort, while "poorly performed" focuses on the quality of the performance. Something "barely performed" might be incomplete, while something "poorly performed" might be complete but of low quality.