hardly at all

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly at all" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something occurs to a very small extent or not at all. Example: "I hardly at all noticed the changes in the project until it was completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I didn't see my dad hardly at all when I was growing up".

The New York Times

Inspiring, hardly at all.

The New York Times

"Hardly at all.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately, hardly at all.

The New Yorker

Well, hardly at all.

Independent

Hasn't been shaken out hardly at all.

The Guardian

Now, it clashes hardly at all.

The New York Times - Arts

But to Manly, hardly at all.

The Guardian - Sport

They didn't sleep hardly at all.

The New Yorker

'No, I didn't sleep hardly at all.

The Guardian - Sport

PUHL: Hardly at all, as far as I can remember.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly at all" to emphasize a near-absence of something. For example, "The new regulations affected small businesses "hardly at all".

Common error

Avoid using "hardly at all" when you mean 'not really' or 'a little bit'. The phrase implies a level of near non-existence, so use it when something is almost completely absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly at all" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating the minimal extent or degree to which something occurs or exists. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is commonly used to express near-absence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly at all" is a versatile adverbial modifier used to express the near-absence or minimal extent of something. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, from news and media to academia, make it a valuable tool for precise communication. While similar to phrases like "scarcely at all" and "barely at all", it's essential to remember its emphasis on near non-existence and avoid using it when a small but noticeable quantity is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely at all

Emphasizes the rarity or infrequency, similar to "hardly", but can sometimes imply a greater degree of surprise.

barely at all

Highlights the narrow margin by which something exists or occurs.

almost not at all

Directly expresses nearness to a complete absence, making it very clear.

virtually not at all

Indicates something is so close to zero that it is effectively zero.

practically not at all

Similar to 'virtually not at all', this phrase suggests the lack of something is so significant it's near non-existent.

next to nothing

Implies a negligible amount or degree of something, often in a physical sense.

negligibly

Expresses the idea that the amount is so small it's not worth considering.

in a minimal way

Formal and emphasizes the small extent or degree of an action or characteristic.

to a slight extent

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the limited degree of something.

not in the slightest

Emphasizes a complete lack of something, often used for disagreement or contradiction.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly at all" in a sentence?

Use "hardly at all" to indicate that something occurs to a very small extent or almost not at all. For example, "I "hardly at all" noticed the changes until the project was completed."

What phrases are similar to "hardly at all"?

Similar phrases include "scarcely at all", "barely at all", and "almost not at all". These phrases convey a similar meaning of near absence.

Is it more formal to say "hardly at all" or "not at all"?

"Not at all" is generally more direct and commonly used in everyday conversation. "Hardly at all" carries a slightly more nuanced or subtle tone and may be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall style and intent.

What is the difference between "hardly at all" and "a little"?

"Hardly at all" indicates a minimal presence or effect, nearing zero, whereas "a little" suggests a small but noticeable quantity or effect. They are nearly opposite in meaning.