barely usable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely usable" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you are talking about something that has just the minimum amount of usability or functionality needed. For example, "The old car was barely usable, so we decided to get a new one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The batteries in back also trim the trunk space to a barely usable 7 cubic feet.

The New York Times

Indian airports had no lounges back then, and the chairs were barely usable.

The New York Times

Above the hinge is a huge, 320-by-480-pixel screen; below it, a tiny, barely usable thumb-typing keyboard.

The New York Times - Tech

But what has changed noticeably since then is the quality of budget tools, which used to be barely usable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Watching YouTube is an impossible dream on Cuban dialup, and barely usable on the rare broadband connections.

The Guardian - Tech

However, others have said the water along the project's path is so contaminated by pollution that it's barely usable, even after treatment.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

These lanes were hardly usable!

The New York Times

This is basically just a variation on a classic attack ad, essentially a just-barely-honest tactic usable against almost any member of Congress.

The New Yorker

It's just not usable.

Huffington Post

Gizmodo's Brent Rose, who has self-described "ape hands", found the 5.3-inch screen usable, but barely.

Huffington Post

Since November 2004, when MoMA moved into its new building – a $858m behemoth that barely increased the amount of usable exhibition space – the museum has devoted its principal galleries on the sixth floor to women artists only four times: for the painters Elizabeth Murray and Marlene Dumas, the performance artist Marina Abramović, and the photographer Cindy Sherman.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the state of equipment or resources, use "barely usable" to convey a sense of urgency or the need for replacement or upgrade.

Common error

Avoid using "barely usable" when the item is completely broken or unusable. The phrase implies some minimal level of functionality, so ensure this is accurate to avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely usable" functions as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun by indicating the extent of its usability. It signifies that the item or resource in question possesses minimal functionality. Ludwig AI confirms this through the various examples provided.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely usable" serves as an adjectival modifier to denote something possessing minimal functionality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and notes its consistent use across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science. While suitable for formal writing, it's crucial to ensure the described item indeed has some functionality to avoid misleading your audience. Related alternatives include "scarcely functional" and "almost unusable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely functional

Emphasizes the limited functionality, suggesting it almost doesn't work.

marginally practical

Highlights the limited practicality, indicating it's useful only in certain situations.

almost unusable

Directly states it's close to being unusable, nearly reaching that threshold.

hardly workable

Focuses on the difficulty in making it work, suggesting significant effort is needed.

minimally effective

Stresses the low level of effectiveness, indicating it achieves very little.

just about operational

Indicates it's barely in working order, suggesting potential for failure.

tenuously serviceable

Highlights the fragility and unreliability of its serviceability.

borderline functional

Suggests it's on the edge of being functional, with limited capability.

nearly ineffective

Emphasizes the close proximity to being completely ineffective.

barely adequate

Highlights the fact that it just meets the minimum requirements.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely usable" to describe something that is functional to a minimal degree. For example, "The old laptop is "barely usable" for modern tasks because of its slow processor and limited memory".

What phrases are similar in meaning to "barely usable"?

Similar phrases include "scarcely functional", "marginally practical", and "almost unusable". These phrases all suggest a very low level of usability.

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

Yes, "barely usable" is suitable for formal writing when you need to precisely convey that something has minimal functionality. However, consider the audience and context; a more technical term might be preferable in some cases.

What's the difference between "barely usable" and "unusable"?

"Barely usable" means something can still be used, although with difficulty or limitations. "Unusable" means it cannot be used at all. Therefore, "barely usable" suggests some residual functionality, while unusable implies complete failure.