hardly any

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly any" is correct and usable in written English, especially when referring to a small amount of something.
For example, "I have hardly any money left in my bank account."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Carried hardly any cash.

The New Yorker

Hardly any did.

The Economist

Hardly any fun, actually.

The New Yorker

"Hardly any point".

Independent

There's hardly any wait.

Cornell University

Well, Hardly Any.

The New York Times - Food

There were hardly any.

The New York Times - Style

In fact, hardly any do.

The Economist

Seems hardly any difference, right?

The New Yorker

But there's hardly any snow.

The New Yorker

And hardly any reading, either.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly any" to express a small quantity or degree, implying that something is nearly absent. For instance, "There was hardly any traffic on the road today."

Common error

Avoid using "hardly any" when you mean to convey a complete absence. "Hardly any" indicates a small amount, not none at all. If there is absolutely nothing, use "none" or "no" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly any" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying nouns to indicate a very small quantity or degree. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The provided examples illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

7%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly any" is a versatile phrase used to express a small quantity or near absence of something. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. While it is most frequently found in news and media, it is also present in academic and scientific writing. The key is to use it when you want to convey that something is present, but only in a very small amount. Alternatives like "almost none" or "scarcely any" can be used for similar effect, but "hardly any" remains a common and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost none

Emphasizes the near absence of something, similar to "hardly any" but with a slightly stronger implication.

scarcely any

Indicates a very small amount or number, closely mirroring the meaning of "hardly any".

barely any

Suggests that something exists in such a small quantity that it's almost non-existent, like "hardly any".

virtually no

Implies that something is so close to zero that it can be considered nonexistent. Stronger than "hardly any".

next to no

Similar to "hardly any", this idiom highlights the minimal amount or degree of something.

a negligible amount

Refers to a quantity so small that it's insignificant, comparable to "hardly any" in certain contexts.

a paucity of

Describes a scarcity or lack of something, conveying a similar sense of limited quantity as "hardly any".

very little

A more general term for a small quantity, which can sometimes be used in place of "hardly any".

an insignificant number

Highlights that the number is so small that it is irrelevant, similar in effect to "hardly any".

a minimum of

Indicates the lowest possible amount, often implying that it is close to zero, sharing the sense of scarcity with "hardly any".

FAQs

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

Use "hardly any" to indicate a small quantity or degree of something. For example, "There is "hardly any" milk left in the fridge."

What's the difference between "hardly any" and "almost none"?

"Hardly any" and "almost none" are similar, but "almost none" may suggest an even smaller quantity or a stronger sense of near-absence.

Is it correct to say "there is hardly any" or "there are hardly any"?

Use "there is hardly any" for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time) and "there are hardly any" for countable nouns (e.g., apples, people). For example, "There is "hardly any" water left" and "There are "hardly any" students present".

What are some synonyms for "hardly any"?

Synonyms for "hardly any" include "scarcely any", "barely any", and "virtually no". The best choice depends on the specific context.