hardly able

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly able" is correct and usable in written English and can be used when describing someone's ability or lack thereof to do something.
Example: "She was hardly able to contain her excitement as she received the news of her promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was hardly able to walk.

The Guardian - Travel

At 7 days after stimulation, we were hardly able to detect IL-1β expression.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology

Two young men were helping an old man who seemed hardly able to walk.

The New Yorker

Mr. Obama's advisers slinked out late, hardly able to contain their gloom.

The New York Times

"I'm not sure," he said, hardly able to hide his skepticism.

The New York Times

But the drugs also left him severely sedated, hardly able to talk, his mother said.

The New York Times

At night, hardly able to speak, they can only hold each other.

The New York Times - Books

He began to be hardly able to look at his mother.

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Faber said that he was so worried he was hardly able to eat.

The New Yorker

The dancers, though game, seemed hardly able to take it seriously.

The New York Times

"I left school with no qualifications, hardly able to read and write.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Follow "hardly able" with a verb that describes the action the subject struggles to perform, this creates a clearer and more vivid image for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly able" when you mean completely unable. "Hardly able" implies some slight capacity, not a total absence of ability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly able" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a verb, indicating a limited capacity or near inability to perform the action described by the verb. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly able" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a limited capacity or near inability to perform an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use in a variety of contexts, though it appears most frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When writing, remember that "hardly able" should be used to suggest a slight capability, not a total absence of ability, and ensure clarity by including a context that explains the reason for the limitation. You can use alternatives such as ""scarcely able"" or "barely able" to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely able

Implies a minimal level of ability, very close in meaning to the original phrase.

barely able

Indicates a slight capacity or ability, similar to "hardly able".

almost unable

Highlights the near impossibility of performing an action.

nearly incapable

Emphasizes a lack of capability, suggesting a complete or almost complete inability.

with difficulty able

Focuses on the effort required to do something, despite limited ability.

only just able

Highlights that the action was achieved by a very small margin.

laboriously able

Emphasizes a high degree of effort and difficulty, implies the effort outweighs the level of ability.

faintly able

Indicates a weak or diminished capacity.

nominally able

Highlights how an apparent capability is not representative of practical ability.

marginally able

Indicates that the ability level is only achieved slightly, with no margin for errors or changes.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly able" in a sentence?

"Hardly able" is used to indicate that someone or something has very little ability to do something. Example: "After the accident, he was "scarcely able" to walk".

What's a good substitute for "hardly able"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "hardly able" with phrases like "barely able", "almost unable", or ""scarcely able"".

Is it correct to say "I'm hardly able to" or "I'm barely able to"?

Both "I'm hardly able to" and "I'm barely able to" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning of limited ability. The choice depends on the desired nuance.

What is the difference between "hardly able" and "not able"?

"Hardly able" implies a very limited capacity, whereas "not able" suggests a complete inability. "He was "hardly able" to lift the box" means he could lift it a little, while "He was not able to lift the box" means he couldn't lift it at all.