barely useable

USAGE SUMMARY

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And yet, a few days after the launch of iOS 6, it became clear that Apple Maps was filled with inaccurate information and was barely useable.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But not every colour is just right, not every word or note is useable.

The Guardian

Great content needs useable technology.

The New York Times

This time I hope someone brings along a useable ball.

The Guardian - Opinion

A web search should bring up useable finding charts.

The Guardian

"Marginal country in Tasmania will become useable for sparkling wine.

The Guardian

Well, barely.

The New Yorker

Just barely.

The New York Times - Sports

Barely mentioned.

The New York Times

Barely any.

The New York Times

Barely existing.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barely useable", ensure the context clearly conveys the degree of near-uselessness. Provide specific reasons why something is "barely useable" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "barely useable" when something is completely unusable. This phrase implies some minimal level of functionality, so ensure that's the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely useable" functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun, describing the extent to which something can be used. Ludwig examples show it's often applied to technology or resources with limited functionality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely useable" describes something with limited functionality. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically acceptable but rare. It is most commonly found in News & Media. When you choose this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the almost unusable state of something, providing details to support your assessment. Alternatives include "almost unusable" or "hardly functional".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost unusable

Emphasizes a state near complete inability to be used.

barely workable

Highlights minimal capacity to function and get the job done.

hardly functional

Highlights the limited or reduced functionality.

scarcely workable

Focuses on the difficulty of making something work.

effectively unusable

Highlights that something is unusable in practice, even if technically usable.

marginally practical

Suggests the item is only practical in very limited circumstances.

minimally operative

Describes something that barely functions.

nearly non-functional

Similar to almost unusable, emphasizing the lack of function.

just about operational

Indicates the item barely meets the minimum requirements to operate.

slightly functional

Emphasizes minimal functionality.

FAQs

What does "barely useable" mean?

The phrase "barely useable" means something is functional to a minimal extent, almost to the point of being unusable. It implies that while it may work, it's difficult or frustrating to use.

What can I say instead of "barely useable"?

You can use alternatives like "almost unusable", "hardly functional", or "marginally practical" depending on the context.

Is "barely useable" grammatically correct?

Yes, "barely useable" is grammatically correct. It's a compound adjective where "barely" modifies the adjective "useable".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "barely useable"?

It's appropriate to use "barely useable" when you want to express that something is technically functional, but its usability is severely limited. For example, "The old software was "barely useable" on the new operating system".