hardly any difference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly any difference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is very little or almost no distinction between two or more things. Example: "After comparing the two products, I found that there is hardly any difference in their performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some of the smaller events, because the ATP's messed up the smaller tournaments by giving them 250 [ranking] points, it doesn't really make much sense to play in, because 250 points isn't going to make hardly any difference.

BBC

Although both codes use different computational meshes (block-structured vs. hybrid-unstructured) there is hardly any difference between the two.

Journal of Mathematics in Industry

Seems hardly any difference, right?

The New Yorker

"There was hardly any difference in their positions," Mr. Siegel said.

The New York Times

So you still think there's hardly any difference between the two? A. On most issues.

The New York Times

"We are so close now, there's hardly any difference," Broadbent said.

The Guardian

For the really poor, an extra child makes hardly any difference.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although, on a yearly average, (very) unstable conditions prevail, the calculated wind profiles showed hardly any difference between the logarithmic and the diabatic wind profile.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

"The inconvenient truth is that there's hardly any difference between the two governments about what is wanted from Brexit," said one official.

The Guardian

There's hardly any difference between right-wing extremist terrorists and Islamist attackers on that front: Both want and need the attention of the groups they're fighting against.

The Washington Post

In one recent survey by the Louis Harris Institute, 74percentt of those questioned said they saw hardly any difference between Mr. Chirac and Mr. Jospin.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing two or more options, use "hardly any difference" to clearly and concisely state that the distinction between them is minimal or insignificant.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly any difference" when there are noticeable or significant distinctions. Ensure your assessment accurately reflects the degree of similarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly any difference" functions as a qualifier, indicating that the degree of dissimilarity between two or more entities is minimal or negligible. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly any difference" effectively communicates that the dissimilarity between compared items is minimal. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. For alternative expressions, consider "virtually no difference" or "negligible difference" to emphasize the near absence of distinction. When using this phrase, ensure that the similarity is genuine, and avoid overstating it. Ludwig's analysis shows that this phrase provides a useful tool for conveying near-equivalence with precision and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

virtually no difference

Replaces "hardly any" with "virtually no", emphasizing the near absence of difference.

negligible difference

Uses "negligible" to highlight that the difference is so small it's not worth considering.

scarcely any difference

Substitutes "hardly" with "scarcely", offering a slightly more formal tone.

almost no difference

Emphasizes the near absence of any distinction, making the lack of difference very clear.

minimal difference

Focuses on the small size or extent of the difference.

little to no difference

Highlights the lack of significant distinction between the items being compared.

not much difference

Offers a more informal way to express the small degree of difference.

barely a difference

Uses "barely" to indicate the difference is slight and almost nonexistent.

practically identical

Shifts the focus to the similarity, implying differences are too small to matter.

effectively the same

Stresses that, despite any minor variations, the result or effect is the same.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly any difference" to indicate that the distinction between two or more things is minimal or insignificant. For example, "After the updates, there's "hardly any difference" in performance."

What are some alternatives to "hardly any difference"?

You can use alternatives like "virtually no difference", "negligible difference", or "minimal difference" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "there is hardly a difference" instead of "there is hardly any difference"?

While "there is hardly a difference" is grammatically correct, "there is "hardly any difference"" is more common and emphasizes the lack of significant distinction.

What's the difference between "hardly any difference" and "no difference"?

"Hardly any difference" suggests a very small distinction exists, while "no difference" indicates they are identical. The choice depends on the accuracy of the comparison you want to convey.