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"could hardly be expected" is a perfectly grammatical and acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is unlikely or unexpected, or that it would be unreasonable to expect it. For example: "It could hardly be expected that the student would arrive on time, given their history of lateness."
Exact(54)
Raskolnikov could hardly be expected to cheer up Mr. Snowden.
Uniformity could hardly be expected of a thing so vast.
After such a demanding program, an encore could hardly be expected.
But a man of such energy and imagination could hardly be expected to resign himself to defeat at age 45.
Mr. Blank could hardly be expected to make player personnel decisions — and thankfully, he knew better than to try.
With their leaders talking this way, C.B.P. agents could hardly be expected to feel chastened at all.
Similar(5)
lawyer, "can hardly be expected to achieve".
Leaps can hardly be expected.
And for such a figure of intimidating spiritual authority, his background could hardly be less expected – a family of builders from Wembley.
It could hardly be worse.
It could hardly be otherwise.
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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com