hardly better

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly better" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is only slightly improved or not significantly better than another thing. Example: "The new version of the software is hardly better than the previous one, as it still has many of the same issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which is hardly better.

The Guardian - Film

American investors were hardly better.

The Economist

Their life there is hardly better.

The New York Times

But their life expectancy was hardly better.

The Economist

In Baghdad, Ali's situation is hardly better.

The New Yorker

His own colleagues were hardly better.

The Guardian

Spain fared hardly better with an unemployment rate of 26%.

University of California, Berkeley

Children like Henrry are hardly better off for it.

The New York Times

Seven other states also receiving F's were hardly better.

The New York Times

The odds are hardly better with Republicans running the House.

The Economist

But state-owned operators, they allege, are hardly better.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly better" to express a nuanced comparison where there's a minimal or almost negligible degree of improvement. This is particularly useful when highlighting the inadequacy of a change or upgrade.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly better" when there is a significant or noticeable improvement. It's crucial to accurately reflect the degree of change to maintain credibility and avoid misleading your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly better" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically modifying an adjective or implied comparison. It qualifies the degree to which something has improved, emphasizing that the improvement is minimal. This is validated by Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly better" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a minimal or insignificant improvement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples across various contexts, predominantly in news, media, and scientific publications. While alternatives like "scarcely improved" or "barely better" offer similar meanings, "hardly better" provides a specific nuance, highlighting the inadequacy of a change. When using this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects a situation where the improvement is indeed negligible to avoid misleading your audience. The consistent use of "hardly better" across authoritative sources underscores its established place in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely improved

Emphasizes the minimal degree of improvement; uses "scarcely" instead of "hardly".

barely better

Indicates the improvement is only just noticeable; replaces "hardly" with "barely".

only marginally better

Highlights the slightness of the improvement, adding "marginally" for emphasis.

not much better

A more direct way of saying the improvement is small; avoids the adverb "hardly".

slightly better at best

Adds a qualification that even the slight improvement might be an overestimation.

a bit better, if at all

Expresses doubt about whether any real improvement exists; uses a more colloquial tone.

negligibly better

Uses a more formal term, "negligibly", to indicate the improvement is insignificant.

almost the same

Indicates near equivalence, implying very little or no improvement.

virtually identical

Suggests that there is no tangible difference between the two options.

hardly an upgrade

Focuses on the lack of significant improvement in the sense of an upgrade or advancement.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly better" to indicate something is only slightly improved, such as, "The sequel was "hardly better" than the original."

What's a synonym for "hardly better"?

Alternatives include "scarcely improved", "barely better", or "not much better", all suggesting minimal improvement.

Which is correct, "hardly better" or "hardly good"?

"Hardly good" is grammatically correct but implies something is barely acceptable. "Hardly better" suggests something is only slightly improved over something else.

What's the difference between "hardly better" and "significantly better"?

"Hardly better" implies a minimal difference, while "significantly better" indicates a substantial and noticeable improvement. They represent opposite ends of the spectrum of change.