hardly anything

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly anything" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is often used to denote something which is insignificant, minimal or not worth mentioning. For example: "I tried to get her to come but she said she had hardly anything to wear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Well, hardly anything.

The New York Times - Tech

But hardly anything else.

The New York Times

Hardly anything has changed.

The Guardian - Sport

But hardly anything more.

The New Yorker

I made hardly anything.

The Guardian - Film

This year hardly anything.

The New York Times

There's hardly anything less weird.

The New Yorker

There's hardly anything you couldn't get there".

The New York Times

I think about hardly anything else".

The New York Times - Books

Faye, for her part, says hardly anything.

The New Yorker

Simple to prepare and costs hardly anything!

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly anything", ensure the context clearly indicates a lack of quantity or significance. This phrase is most effective when emphasizing a deficiency or near-absence.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly anything" when you mean 'something'. "Hardly" implies a near-zero amount; if there's a noticeable quantity, choose a different phrase like "a little bit" or "some stuff".

Linguistic Context

"Hardly anything" functions as a quantifier, specifically indicating a very small or negligible amount of something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. Examples from Ludwig show it modifying nouns implicitly, suggesting a lack or near absence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

14%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly anything" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a negligible quantity or near absence of something. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts. It's crucial to use it when you genuinely mean 'almost nothing', avoiding confusion with phrases indicating a more substantial amount. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase appears frequently in news and media, showcasing its widespread applicability in diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nothing

Indicates a quantity that is very close to zero, implying a near absence.

scarcely anything

Suggests that there is very little of something, emphasizing its rarity.

barely anything

Highlights the minimal amount of something, often implying it is insufficient.

virtually nothing

Indicates that something is so close to nothing that it is practically non-existent.

next to nothing

Emphasizes the insignificance of the quantity, suggesting it is almost worthless.

little or nothing

Suggests a lack of something, with the possibility of a very small amount being present.

hardly a thing

Focuses on the individual items, emphasizing that very few exist.

almost no things

Highlights the absence of multiple items or objects.

a negligible amount

Indicates that the quantity is so small it can be disregarded.

a minimal quantity

Emphasizes the small size of the amount, often in a formal context.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly anything" to express that there is very little or almost nothing of something. For example, "I have "hardly anything" to wear to the party" indicates a lack of suitable clothing.

What can I say instead of "hardly anything"?

You can use alternatives like "almost nothing", "scarcely anything", or "barely anything" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there is hardly anything"?

Yes, "there is hardly anything" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a scarcity or near absence of something.

What's the difference between "hardly anything" and "nothing"?

"Nothing" means absolutely zero, while ""hardly anything"" implies a very small amount, close to zero, but not necessarily zero. "I ate nothing" means I didn't eat at all; "I ate "hardly anything"" means I ate very little.