can barely be seen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can barely be seen" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to see or not clearly visible. Example: "The stars were so faint that they can barely be seen through the thick clouds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

That dress (possibly gorgeous, but who can tell?) can barely be seen in the official images.

The New York Times

Tattoos, often showily visible in performance, can barely be seen sneaking out from cuffs.

The Guardian - Books

But the results of that aid can barely be seen on the ground.

The New Yorker

Some of the most environmentally damaging plastics can barely be seen by the human eye, yet are used daily.

The Guardian

The ink on the label is so faded that it can barely be seen and cannot be tested.

The New York Times - Arts

They can also be positioned so that they can barely be seen from land and cannot be heard, which may spark less opposition.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The HCO3- abundance in melt diminishes rapidly with increasing temperature and can barely be observed at 750 °C and cannot be seen in spectra of single phase fluids at 800 °C.

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

For example, we can also see that considering the current predictive distributions, model 2 and 4 can barely be distinguished.

BMC Systems Biology

Hamilton Academical and Dundee can barely be separated.

BBC

We can barely be told it enough.

WikiHow

In particular, Jesus' right hand, previously barely noticeable at his side, can now be seen just above the raised hand of a fallen man, as if in blessing.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "can barely be seen" when you want to emphasize that something is extremely difficult to see, almost to the point of invisibility. It adds a sense of subtlety or near absence.

Common error

Avoid using "can barely be seen" when a simpler term like "faint" or "dim" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can barely be seen" functions as a descriptive phrase, often modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a very low degree of visibility. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in describing faint stars, faded ink, or distant objects.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can barely be seen" is a grammatically correct and commonly used descriptive phrase indicating something is extremely difficult to see. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts, primarily in news and media, science and wiki sources. When writing, consider simpler alternatives if emphasis is unnecessary, as overuse can sound overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost imperceptible

Focuses on the degree of visibility, suggesting something is nearly impossible to perceive.

hardly noticeable

Emphasizes the difficulty in noticing or detecting something.

scarcely visible

Highlights the rarity or infrequency of being seen.

faintly discernible

Stresses the effort required to distinguish something from its background.

just about visible

Indicates that something is at the very edge of being able to be seen.

barely perceptible

Similar to "almost imperceptible" but emphasizes sensory perception in general.

dimly visible

Focuses on the lack of brightness or clarity in what is being seen.

indistinct

Indicates a lack of clear definition or boundaries, making something hard to see.

blurred

Suggests that something lacks sharp focus and detail, affecting visibility.

obscured from view

Highlights that something is blocked or hidden, making it difficult to see.

FAQs

How can I use "can barely be seen" in a sentence?

You can use "can barely be seen" to describe something that is difficult to see or not clearly visible. For example: "The faint stars "can barely be seen" through the city lights".

What's the difference between "can barely be seen" and "invisible"?

"Can barely be seen" implies that something is still present but extremely difficult to perceive, while "invisible" means it cannot be seen at all. The phrase "can barely be seen" suggests limited visibility, whereas invisible suggests complete lack of visibility.

What are some alternatives to "can barely be seen"?

You can use alternatives like "almost imperceptible", "hardly noticeable", or "scarcely visible" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "could barely be seen" instead of "can barely be seen"?

Yes, "could barely be seen" is grammatically correct and expresses a similar idea, but in the past tense. For example, "The ship "could barely be seen" through the fog".