barely work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is working but not working very well. For example, "This old computer is barely working."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Federal institutions barely work there.

The Economist

I can barely work.

The Guardian

No telephone lines; satellite phones barely work".

The Guardian

Republicans are not in a mood to compromise and can barely work with the Democrats.

The New York Times

My BlackBerry and cellphone barely work out there, which is nice.

The New York Times

The Democrats in Congress distrust the White House and can barely work with the Republicans.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Governance was barely working before.

The Economist

Last year, she barely worked.

The New York Times

He barely worked again.

The New Yorker

Playing the Clinton card barely worked for Mr. Clinton.

The New York Times

Scarier is that Chavez says he barely worked Monarchos today.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the performance of systems or technologies, use "barely work" to clearly communicate that the functionality is severely limited or unreliable. For example, "The website's search function barely works, making it difficult for users to find what they need."

Common error

Avoid using "barely work" when something is completely non-functional. "Barely work" implies some level of operation, however minimal. If something does not function at all, use phrases like "doesn't work" or "is broken" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely work" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a verb, describing the extent to which an action (working) is performed. It signifies that the action is happening to a minimal or insufficient degree. Ludwig confirms this is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely work" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, signifying minimal or insufficient functionality. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability across various contexts. It functions as an adverbial modifier describing the extent to which an action (working) is performed, and it's suitable for neutral communication. Its frequency is common, with prevalent use in news media, scientific, and formal business domains. Alternative expressions include "hardly work" and "scarcely work". When using "barely work", ensure the subject retains some level of functionality, however limited, as it implies more operation than phrases like "doesn't work".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly work

Suggests a severe lack of effort or functionality, conveying a stronger sense of deficiency.

scarcely work

Emphasizes the limited or insufficient nature of the work being done.

rarely work

Indicates infrequent functionality or operation, emphasizing the lack of occurrence.

almost doesn't work

Focuses on the near absence of functionality, emphasizing the closeness to complete failure.

infrequently work

Highlights the lack of regularity in the action of working, focusing on the temporal aspect.

seldom work

Indicates an uncommon occurrence of working, suggesting rarity.

functions inadequately

Replaces "work" with a more formal synonym and "barely" with "inadequately", increasing the level of formality.

just work

Expresses the idea of something succeeding only by a small margin or with difficulty. It emphasizes that things are working, but not very well.

operates marginally

Emphasizes the minimal level of operational effectiveness, suggesting a state of near non-operation.

only just work

Suggests an even greater degree of struggle for something to function or be effective.

FAQs

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

You can use "barely work" to describe something that is functioning, but with great difficulty or minimal effectiveness. For example: "The old car "barely works", making long trips unreliable."

What are some alternatives to saying "barely work"?

Alternatives include "hardly work", "scarcely work", or "almost doesn't work", which all convey a similar meaning of limited functionality.

Is it grammatically correct to say "barely work"?

Yes, "barely work" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI also confirms this. The adverb "barely" modifies the verb "work", indicating the extent to which something functions.

What's the difference between "barely work" and "doesn't work"?

"Barely work" suggests that something is still functioning to some degree, albeit poorly. "Doesn't work" indicates complete failure or lack of functionality.