barely recall

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely recall" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to express that you have a very limited or faint memory of something. Example: "I can barely recall the details of that event." Alternative expressions include "hardly remember" and "scarcely recall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"I can barely recall it.

The Guardian - Books

Sometimes he could barely recall his wife's face.

The New Yorker

Phyllis, 43, could barely recall her exchange with the mayor.

The New York Times

Gustafson says she can barely recall a time when she did not want to attend Columbia.

Columbia University

It helped that he could barely recall what their voices had sounded like.

The New Yorker

Now, almost two decades later, Sajad could barely recall his ancestral home.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

He said he barely recalled "Po Lazarus".

The New York Times

He barely recalls one sister, Oh Yeon-sik, who was just 4 at the time.

The New York Times

Dalglish admits that he barely recalls the game, but he does remember the surface.

The Guardian - Sport

Ellen R. Malcolm, president of Emily's List, says barely recalls him.

The New York Times

Gone, among barely recalled others, are the Red Sox, the Indians, and the Nationals.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely recall" to express a weak or fading memory of an event, detail, or person. It's suitable when you remember something, but not clearly or completely. For example, "I can "barely recall" what we discussed during that meeting".

Common error

While "barely recall" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing. In such cases, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "have a vague recollection of" or "retain a faint memory of" for greater precision and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely recall" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a weak or faint memory of something. It describes the act of remembering with difficulty or imprecision. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

10%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely recall" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a weak or faint memory. As Ludwig confirms, it's correct and applicable in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it's best to avoid overusing it in highly formal contexts where more sophisticated alternatives may be preferable. The phrase functions as a verb phrase, serving to communicate uncertainty or lack of clarity regarding something remembered. Remember to use "barely recall" when you want to convey that you have a limited or indistinct recollection of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly remember

Focuses on the difficulty in bringing the memory to mind.

scarcely remember

Similar to "hardly remember", but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the lack of memory.

faintly remember

Emphasizes the dimness or lack of clarity in the memory.

dimly remember

Stresses the obscurity and weakness of the memory.

vaguely recollect

Highlights the uncertainty and imprecision of the memory.

cannot quite recall

Highlights the inability to fully bring the memory to mind.

sketchily recall

Suggests that only the broad outlines of the memory are accessible.

have a hazy recollection of

Indicates that the memory is unclear and indistinct.

have a fleeting memory of

Implies the memory is brief and insubstantial.

almost forgot

Emphasizes how close the memory was to being completely lost.

FAQs

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

Use "barely recall" to indicate a faint or weak memory. For instance, "I can "barely recall" the details of that summer vacation" or "She could "barely recall" his name after all these years".

What are some alternatives to "barely recall"?

You can use alternatives such as "faintly remember", "vaguely recollect", or "hardly remember" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "I can barely recall"?

Yes, "I can "barely recall"" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express that your memory of something is weak or unclear.

What's the difference between "barely recall" and "completely forget"?

""Barely recall"" means you have a faint memory of something, while "completely forget" means you have no memory of it at all. They represent opposite ends of the memory spectrum.