hardly all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly all" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not completely or entirely the case, often implying that only a small part or a few elements are included. Example: "While the project was ambitious, hardly all of the goals were met by the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Yet hardly all those ventures are successes.

The New York Times

Of course, the Mets, being the Mets, had to demonstrate they are hardly all the way back.

The New York Times - Sports

But that's hardly all.

The New York Times

Well, hardly all fairy tales.

The New Yorker

Hardly all Australians are persuaded.

The New York Times

But they are hardly all identical.

The New York Times

The model was hardly all about airstrikes.

The New York Times

That is hardly all his own doing.

The New York Times - Sports

The tempest was hardly all Glavine's fault.

The New York Times - Sports

But it was hardly all that generation.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Plus the National Do Not Call list is hardly all-encompassing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly all", ensure the context clearly indicates what larger group or category is being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly all" when you intend to indicate that virtually nothing is included. Phrases like "almost none" or "nearly nothing" may be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly all" functions as a determiner phrase that quantifies a noun phrase to indicate that only a small portion of something is being considered. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Sports

15%

General

10%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly all" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate that only a small portion of a group or category is being considered. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. It is commonly found in news and media contexts to provide nuanced perspectives and avoid overgeneralizations. When using "hardly all", ensure clarity by explicitly referencing the larger group or category. Alternatives such as "not quite all" and "only a few" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not quite all

Emphasizes that the entirety is not included, focusing on the slight deficiency.

barely any

Stresses the scarcity or minimal amount included.

only a few

Highlights the limited number of items or elements that are part of the whole.

not many

Focuses on the small quantity or number involved.

few and far between

Indicates that occurrences are infrequent and limited.

a small fraction

Highlights the proportional insignificance of the included part.

a limited number

Stresses the restriction on the quantity or amount.

just a handful

Emphasizes the very small number or amount included.

not universally

Indicates that something does not apply to everyone or everything.

partially

Focuses on the incompleteness or limited extent of something.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly all" to indicate that only a small portion of a group or category is being referred to. For example, "Hardly all of the students passed the test on their first attempt."

What's a good alternative to "hardly all"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "hardly all" include "not quite all", "barely any", or "only a few".

Is "hardly all" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly all" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that only a small part of something is included or true.

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

"Hardly all" suggests that a very small portion is being considered, whereas "not all" simply indicates that the entire group is not included, without specifying the extent.