barely when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely when" is not correct or usable in written English.
You cannot use it at all. To make a correct sentence, you could use "barely ever" or "hardly ever" in its place. Example: I hardly ever go out these days.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The next inning, they got their second run, barely, when Byrd sent a two-out grounder softly past the mound.

The New York Times - Sports

This time Fister survived — barely — when Cano's hard-hit ball caromed to Peralta, who made the throw to first.

The New York Times

Over one stretch, Lee struck out seven of nine, a run that ended — just barely — when a full-count fastball in the fourth to Teixeira sailed a few inches high.

The New York Times - Sports

The tactic paid off, barely, when Juan Uribe rescued the Dodgers, and their decision makers, by hitting a two-strike, two-run home run in the eighth inning, lifting the Dodgers to 4-3 series-clinching victoverover the Braves before a rollicking sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium.

The New York Times - Sports

New York University professor Jay Rosen recently tweeted that historians mention Woodward and Bernstein "just barely" when discussing how Watergate came to light.

Huffington Post

In the 15 seasons from 2000 to 2014, they had the NFL's worst running game four times, were in the bottom five nine times, and only cracked the top half of the league once — barely — when they were ranked 15th in 2002.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The mustaches barely twitch when doom strikes.

The New York Times

They barely stirred when the aftershock hit as they slept.

The New York Times - Sports

Its protests were barely ended when Villarreal counterattacked.

The New York Times - Sports

Thanksgiving Day had barely begun when Kevin Hofman's BlackBerry buzzed.

The New York Times

The results were barely in when accusations started to fly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "barely when" in your writing. It's grammatically incorrect and can confuse your readers. Instead, use phrases like "hardly ever" or "almost never" to express infrequency more clearly.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "barely" followed directly by "when" as a temporal conjunction. "Barely" typically modifies a verb or adjective to indicate a small amount or degree. Avoid creating grammatically incorrect phrases and consider using valid alternatives instead.

How to use

Learn how to use "barely when" with practical examples and tips.

How to use

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely when" functions as an incorrect attempt to form a temporal clause. It seeks to express a condition that is met only by a very small margin or after a very short time. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not correct in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "barely when" is deemed grammatically incorrect by Ludwig AI and should be avoided in formal writing. While it appears in some news and media sources, its usage is inconsistent and can lead to confusion. The intended meaning is to indicate a close temporal sequence or a near miss, but this is better expressed using grammatically correct alternatives such as "hardly ever", "almost never", or "scarcely ever". By opting for these alternatives, writers can ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly ever

This alternative replaces "barely when" with a more grammatically sound phrase indicating infrequent occurrence.

scarcely ever

Similar to 'hardly ever', this conveys the idea of something happening very infrequently.

rarely if ever

This alternative emphasizes the rarity of an event, possibly suggesting it almost never happens.

almost never

A more direct and easily understood alternative expressing very low frequency.

just about never

This phrase maintains a similar tone while replacing the problematic grammatical structure.

infrequently if ever

This alternative uses more formal language to express rarity.

seldom if ever

A slightly more archaic but still valid way to indicate something hardly occurs.

barely at all

This construction emphasizes the minimal extent or degree of something.

practically never

Similar to 'almost never', this conveys a sense of near non-existence or occurrence.

on the rare occasion

This alternative shifts the focus to the few instances when something might happen.

FAQs

Why is "barely when" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "barely when" doesn't follow standard English grammar rules. "Barely" typically modifies a verb or adjective to indicate a small amount or degree, and using it directly with "when" creates an incorrect construction. It's better to use alternatives like "hardly ever" or "almost never".

What are some alternatives to "barely when" that I can use in my writing?

Instead of "barely when", you can use phrases such as "scarcely ever", "rarely if ever", or "practically never" to express the same idea with better grammar.

In what contexts might someone mistakenly use "barely when"?

People might mistakenly use "barely when" when trying to express that something almost didn't happen or that something happened infrequently. It's a common error arising from trying to combine two separate ideas without the correct grammatical structure. Ensure to use a valid replacement to communicate your idea effectively.

How does the meaning of "barely when" differ from alternatives like "hardly ever" or "almost never"?

While the intention behind "barely when" is often to convey infrequency, it doesn't do so grammatically. Alternatives such as "hardly ever" or "almost never" are grammatically correct and clearly express that something happens very infrequently, making them superior choices for clarity and correctness.