hardly anything else

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly anything else" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that there is very little or almost nothing apart from what has been mentioned. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it seems there is hardly anything else that could explain the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But hardly anything else.

The New York Times

I think about hardly anything else".

The New York Times - Books

"There is hardly anything else left".

The New York Times

She had been drawn to him once: that reminder echoed, hardly anything else made sense.

The New Yorker

But hardly anything else has changed, and the Barn, like the mountain, feels like something of a secret.

The New York Times

That's the main problem for Mr. Lee, that hardly anything else in his store sells.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"We would hardly get anything else done".

The New York Times

The media are hardly covering anything else.

The Guardian

"We've hardly done anything else".

The New York Times - Style

"People are talking about the economic downturn, and I've hardly known anything else," she said.

The New York Times

Once, in an elevator here at the museum, I heard a little toddler, a girl, say, "pachy cephalosaurus" and this little girl could hardly say anything else!

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly anything else", ensure the context clearly establishes the limited scope or near exclusivity you intend to convey. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating the primary focus.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly anything else" when there are significant, even if less prominent, alternatives or considerations. Overstating the exclusivity can weaken your argument or misrepresent the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly anything else" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause, expressing a limited extent or degree. It serves to emphasize the near-absence of something besides what is being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Books

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly anything else" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a minimal amount or near exclusivity. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase functions adverbially, adding emphasis and narrowing focus in different contexts. While relatively uncommon, this phrase is suitable for neutral to professional writing and can be substituted with alternatives like "almost nothing else" or "scarcely anything else". Be mindful not to overstate exclusivity, as this can lead to misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost nothing else

Replaces "hardly" with "almost", emphasizing the near absence of other things.

scarcely anything else

Uses "scarcely" instead of "hardly", conveying a similar sense of rarity or infrequency.

barely anything else

Employs "barely" in place of "hardly", suggesting a minimal amount or degree.

virtually nothing else

Substitutes "hardly" with "virtually", highlighting the near non-existence of alternatives.

practically nothing else

Replaces "hardly" with "practically", indicating a situation that is nearly the same as nothing else.

little else

Shortens the phrase while maintaining the core meaning of minimal alternatives.

almost no other thing

Rephrases to emphasize the lack of other things besides the one mentioned.

next to nothing else

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the idea of very little besides the primary subject.

not much else

Offers a more informal way to express the limited existence of other things.

negligibly anything else

Replaces "hardly" with "negligibly", indicating the lack of other things is insignificant.

FAQs

What does "hardly anything else" mean?

The phrase "hardly anything else" means almost nothing else, or very little else besides what has already been mentioned or is currently being considered. It suggests a strong limitation or near-exclusivity.

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

You can use "hardly anything else" to emphasize a primary focus or a lack of alternatives. For example: "Since starting the new project, I've been thinking about "hardly anything else"."

What are some alternatives to "hardly anything else"?

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

Is it better to say "hardly anything else" or "almost anything else"?

Both "hardly anything else" and "almost anything else" are valid, but "hardly" implies a slightly stronger sense of limitation or infrequency compared to "almost". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.