barely shifted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely shifted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minimal or slight change in position, state, or condition. Example: "The car barely shifted when the driver pressed the accelerator, indicating a problem with the engine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

That scandalous figure has barely shifted.

The Economist

Behind-the-scenes numbers have barely shifted, particularly for directors.

The New Yorker

That position has barely shifted in 20 years.

The Guardian

The gaps in life expectancy and health have barely shifted.

The Guardian - Opinion

The spreads on other types of debt, such as corporate bonds, had barely shifted.

The Economist

In India the rate has barely shifted in two decades of growth.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

I can still barely shift it.

The Guardian - Sport

She talks and talks, barely shifting in her chair.

The New Yorker

Bogart, on the other hand, barely shifts expression.

The New York Times

This total has stayed flat at about 500m since 1990 and, the authors think, will barely shift until 2025.

The Economist

It sees Spain's deficit barely shifting next year, with a drop from 7%to6.9%9% of GDP, while unemployment is set to rise to 28%.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely shifted" to communicate that an effort to cause a change has not produced any significant results.

Common error

Avoid using "barely shifted" when describing situations where even small changes can have significant impacts. Using "slightly changed" or "moderately adjusted" may be more appropriate to acknowledge the sensitivity to change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely shifted" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the extent to which something has changed or moved. It suggests a minimal degree of change, aligning with Ludwig AI which confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely shifted" functions as an adverbial modifier to describe minimal change or movement, as noted by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it serves to emphasize stability or the ineffectiveness of certain actions. Grammatically correct and versatile, it effectively conveys the lack of significant alteration. For situations demanding more precision, alternatives like "hardly changed" or "remained stable" can provide nuanced meanings. The phrase enjoys widespread usage in reputable sources such as The Guardian and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly changed

This alternative focuses on the lack of significant alteration.

hardly altered

Similar to "hardly changed", focusing on the lack of alteration.

scarcely moved

This alternative emphasizes the minimal amount of movement.

scarcely altered

Synonymous to "scarcely changed", focusing on an insignificant change.

remained almost constant

This phrase highlights the stability and lack of fluctuation.

remained largely unchanged

Focuses on the general state of being not changed despite maybe small changes have occurred.

stayed virtually the same

This emphasizes the likeness before and after a certain time.

showed minimal variation

Highlights the minimal variation of something, often used in scientific context.

changed very little

A more explicit way of saying that the magnitude of the change was small.

underwent negligible change

Emphasizes that any change observed was so small as to be unimportant or not worth considering.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely shifted" to describe something that has changed very little over a period of time. For example, "Despite the new policies, the unemployment rate has "barely shifted"."

What's the difference between "barely shifted" and "significantly changed"?

"Barely shifted" indicates a minimal change, suggesting that something has remained largely the same. In contrast, "significantly changed" indicates a substantial alteration or transformation.

What are some alternatives to using "barely shifted"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hardly changed", "remained stable", or "stayed virtually the same", depending on the context.

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

Yes, "barely shifted" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing data, statistics, or trends where precise language is important. It clearly conveys the lack of significant change.