can barely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means that someone or something is only able to do something to a small or limited extent. For example, "He can barely walk after running a marathon yesterday." This means that he is only able to walk a little bit because he is so tired and sore from the marathon. Another example could be, "She can barely speak Spanish, but she managed to order food at the restaurant." This means that she has a limited ability to speak Spanish, but she was still able to communicate well enough to order food at the restaurant.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some can barely wait.

The Economist

Some can barely sleep.

The New York Times

"I can barely walk.

The New York Times - Sports

"I can barely eat.

Independent

Brendan can barely handle it.

The New Yorker

We can barely defend ourselves".

The New York Times

Whichever, he can barely stand.

The New York Times

I can barely spell it.

Independent

"Sometimes you can barely walk.

The New York Times - Sports

"I can barely afford beans".

The New York Times

It can barely impose order.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can barely" to express a very limited ability or action. It's suitable when something is possible, but only just or with great difficulty. For example, "After the injury, he can barely walk".

Common error

Avoid using "can barely" when you mean complete inability. "Can barely" implies some residual capacity, however small. If there is absolutely no ability, use "cannot" or "is unable to" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely" functions as a modal adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate a very limited ability or degree of success. As confirmed by Ludwig, it denotes that an action is possible, but only just or with considerable difficulty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely" is a versatile and common expression used to indicate a limited ability or degree of success in performing an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted in written English. With numerous examples from reputable sources like the New York Times, The Guardian, and The New Yorker, its prevalence is undeniable. While "can barely" is frequently used in News & Media, it's essential to avoid overstating the degree of limitation. Alternatives like "can hardly" or "can scarcely" offer similar nuances, making "can barely" a valuable tool for expressing subtle degrees of limitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can hardly

Implies a similar sense of limitation but may sometimes suggest a slightly greater degree of difficulty.

can scarcely

A more formal alternative, suggesting a minimal ability or occurrence.

is almost unable to

Emphasizes the near impossibility of performing the action.

can just about

Indicates managing to do something with considerable effort or difficulty.

is only just able to

A more verbose alternative, emphasizing the marginal nature of the ability.

is struggling to

Focuses on the effort and difficulty involved in performing the action.

is finding it difficult to

Highlights the challenge faced when attempting the action.

is having trouble

Suggests a problem or difficulty in performing the action.

is at a loss to

Indicates a lack of ability or knowledge to do something.

is not really able to

Expresses a general lack of capability or competence.

FAQs

How to use "can barely" in a sentence?

Use "can barely" to indicate a minimal level of ability or performance. For example: "I "can barely hear" the music" or "She "can barely walk" after the surgery".

What can I say instead of "can barely"?

You can use alternatives like "can hardly", "can scarcely", or "is only just able to depending on the context".

Which is correct, "can barely" or "can hardly"?

Both "can barely" and "can hardly" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, as "can scarcely" may suggest a slightly greater degree of difficulty.

What's the difference between "can barely" and "almost can't"?

"Can barely" implies a minimal level of ability, whereas "almost can't" suggests a near inability. For example, "He "can barely see" without his glasses" means he has some vision, while "He almost can't see without his glasses" suggests his vision is severely impaired.