barely touched

USAGE SUMMARY

"barely touched" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that has had minimal contact or influence. Example: "The paint on the wall was barely touched after the renovation." Alternative expressions include "hardly affected" and "scarcely engaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We barely touched shoulders.

The New York Times

Our hands barely touched.

The New Yorker

I barely touched any of it.

The New Yorker

Gentrification has barely touched Belgrade.

The Guardian

For the record, he barely touched her.

The New Yorker

I barely touched the 20th century.

The New York Times - Arts

"Until then she'd barely touched the south".

The New York Times

I was barely touched on the play".

The New York Times - Sports

But Ms. Collins barely touched her food.

The New York Times

He told me afterwards that I just barely touched him".

Independent

And his raucous wartime rabble rousers were barely touched on.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely touched" to effectively describe something that has had minimal contact or influence, particularly when emphasizing the lack of significant alteration or effect.

Common error

While "barely touched" is common, consider more formal alternatives like "minimally affected" or "virtually unaltered" in academic or professional contexts to maintain a polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely touched" functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the extent to which an action or state has occurred or been affected. Ludwig AI identifies that it commonly modifies verbs to express minimal contact or influence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "barely touched" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to convey minimal contact, influence, or alteration. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its frequent use across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, it is generally neutral to informal in register, making it potentially less suitable for formal academic writing. Consider alternatives like "hardly touched" or "minimally affected" in more formal settings. Ludwig provides ample examples to guide its appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly touched

Emphasizes the lack of significant contact or impact.

scarcely affected

Focuses on the minimal impact or influence something has experienced.

virtually untouched

Highlights the almost complete absence of any alteration or change.

slightly grazed

Indicates a light and brief contact.

remained pristine

Stresses the preservation of an original, unaltered state.

lightly brushed

Suggests a gentle and fleeting contact.

minimally impacted

Focuses on the small degree of influence or effect.

remained unaffected

Highlights the lack of any change or influence.

tangentially related

Implies a connection that is only slightly relevant or significant.

superficially altered

Emphasizes that changes are only skin-deep.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely touched" to indicate minimal contact or effect, as in, "The renovations "barely touched" the original structure" or "She "barely touched" her dinner because she wasn't feeling well".

What are some synonyms for "barely touched"?

Alternatives include "hardly touched", "scarcely affected", or "virtually untouched". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "barely touched" in academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "barely touched" may be considered informal for academic writing. More formal alternatives like "minimally affected" or "virtually unaltered" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "barely touched" and "slightly altered"?

"Barely touched" implies minimal contact or influence, suggesting that something remains largely unchanged. "Slightly altered" indicates that some change has occurred, though it is not substantial.