even if just barely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "even if just barely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is true or valid to a minimal extent, often in a context where the degree of truth or validity is being emphasized. Example: "She managed to pass the exam, even if just barely, which was a relief for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Beyond judgment, high potentials possess what we call "dynamic sensors," which enable them to skirt these risks, even if just barely.

Harvard Business Review

The keys are explained in-depth in Lichtman's book, "Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House 2016". In our conversations in September and October, he outlined how President Obama's second term set the Democrats up for a tight race, and his keys tipped the balance in Trump's favor, even if just barely.

The Washington Post

You may not have heard of Perform Sports, but the sports media company supplanted ESPN in digital video viewership in November — even if just barely — according to comScore's November rankings.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

After all, this is China's first truly modern city, its first world city, and it remains China's largest city, even if nowadays just barely so.

The New York Times

In fact, Blue Origin just pulled off a successful landing a little less than a month ago (even if it just barely stuck its nose into "space" by going just over 100 km — about 60 miles— up from the surface).

Vice

Teligent is still afloat, if just barely.

Forbes

He trusted them with his life, and they trusted him just the same, even if they could barely communicate.

HuffPost

They had a series of recurring jokes that we knew, so even if they just whispered it in a barely audible way and no one else knew, we knew what they were saying.

Huffington Post

People have an innate desire to please you, even if they barely know you.

Forbes

Dozens of friends recently posted "If you're reading this, even if we barely talk, comment a memory of us.

TechCrunch

This was just a phase and even if you barely passed, congratulations still.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "even if just barely" to concede a point while highlighting its minimal impact or significance. For example: "The company met its sales target, "even if just barely", due to a last-minute deal."

Common error

Avoid using "even if just barely" when the condition or result is actually substantial. The phrase should only be used when the degree is truly minimal or questionable.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrases like "even if just barely" modify verbs, adjectives, or clauses, expressing the extent or degree to which something is true or valid. They often serve to qualify a statement, highlighting the minimal nature of a condition or result, as evidenced by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "even if just barely" is an adverbial phrase used to concede a point while emphasizing its minimal significance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent use in news and media. While relatively rare, the phrase serves to acknowledge a condition while diminishing its importance. Remember to use it judiciously to maintain clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

even if only slightly

Emphasizes the small degree of difference or impact.

even if marginally

Highlights that the condition is met by a narrow margin.

even if scarcely

Indicates that something is true to a very small extent.

even if nominally

Suggests that something is true in name only.

even if technically

Implies adherence to a standard with minimal practical effect.

even if almost not

Underlines the near absence of a particular condition or result.

even if by a hair's breadth

Uses an idiom to describe a very narrow margin of success or truth.

even if at a minimum

Stresses the lowest possible extent or degree.

even if in the slightest

Emphasizes that even a minimal degree is still relevant.

even if to a limited extent

Clarifies that the impact or truth is restricted in scope.

FAQs

How can I use "even if just barely" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to express that something is true or successful by the smallest of margins. For instance, "They passed the inspection, "even if just barely", after addressing the most critical issues."

What are some alternatives to "even if just barely"?

Alternatives include "even if only slightly", "even if marginally", or "even if scarcely". These phrases convey a similar meaning of something being true or sufficient by a very small amount.

Is it always appropriate to use "even if just barely"?

No, it's important to use it when you want to emphasize that something is only just true or achieved. If the margin is significant, a different phrase would be more appropriate.

What is the tone of "even if just barely"?

The tone is generally understated and can imply a sense of relief, surprise, or even mild disappointment, depending on the context. It acknowledges a minimal success or truth.