hardly anyone

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly anyone" is a perfectly valid phrase in written English.
It is used to express the idea that something is unlikely to occur. For example, you could say "Hardly anyone expected the team to make it to the playoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hardly anyone even notices.

The New York Times

Hardly anyone does.

The Economist

Hardly anyone cares.

The New York Times

Now hardly anyone does.

The Economist

But hardly anyone bit.

The New York Times

Hardly anyone went because hardly anyone knew.

The New York Times

Hardly anyone can.

The Guardian - Sport

Hardly anyone signed up.

The New Yorker

But hardly anyone noticed.

The New York Times

Hardly anyone so far.

The Guardian

Hardly anyone elected.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly anyone", ensure the verb that follows agrees with a singular subject, as the phrase treats the lack of people as a single concept. For example: "Hardly anyone cares."

Common error

Avoid using a plural verb with "hardly anyone". The phrase functions as a singular subject, so the verb should be singular as well. Instead of "Hardly anyone care", use "Hardly anyone cares".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly anyone" functions as a determiner followed by an indefinite pronoun, acting as the subject or part of the subject of a sentence. It indicates a very small number of people, almost none. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly anyone" is a versatile expression used to indicate that very few people are involved in a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely accepted. It functions as a singular subject, requiring a singular verb form. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media sources, as well as Formal & Business contexts. When writing, remember that "hardly anyone" conveys a stronger sense of scarcity than alternatives like "few people". It's best used to emphasize a small number, often implying surprise or insignificance. Common errors include using plural verb forms, which should be avoided to maintain grammatical accuracy. Similar alternatives include "almost nobody" and "virtually no one".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nobody

Emphasizes the near absence of people, similar to "hardly anyone".

practically nobody

Suggests the number of people is so low it's as if there's no one.

virtually no one

Indicates that the number of people is so small it's almost nonexistent.

scarcely anybody

Similar in meaning, suggesting a very small number of people.

rarely anyone

Focuses on the infrequency of people being present.

few people

A more direct way of saying not many people are involved.

not many individuals

A more formal way of expressing a small number of people.

a small minority

Highlights that the people represent a small, distinct group.

an insignificant number of people

Underscores the lack of importance due to the small number.

just a handful of people

Implies that the number of people can be counted on one hand.

FAQs

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

You can use "hardly anyone" to indicate that very few people are involved in something. For example, "Hardly anyone I know has seen that movie."

What's the difference between "hardly anyone" and "few people"?

"Hardly anyone" emphasizes a stronger sense of scarcity and surprise than "few people". "Few people" is a more neutral statement about the number of people involved.

Which is correct, "hardly anyone is" or "hardly anyone are"?

"Hardly anyone is" is the correct form. "Hardly anyone" functions as a singular subject and requires a singular verb.

What are some alternatives to saying "hardly anyone"?

You could use alternatives like "almost nobody", "virtually no one", or "scarcely anybody" depending on the context.