hardly different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly different" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that two things are almost the same, but not completely. For example, "The two paintings were hardly different – both had the same color scheme."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's hardly different at all".

The Guardian - Tech

The numbers were hardly different there.

The New York Times

It's hardly different at the White House.

The New Yorker

That is hardly different from what the rate is today.

The New Yorker

And yet the trips to Qatar are hardly different.

Independent

Sending phone calls through coaxial cable is hardly different from using thin phone wiring.

The New York Times - Tech

Fatherhood or not, this start was hardly different from any of Pelfrey's previous underwhelming outings.

The New York Times - Sports

In fact some of these individuals seemed hardly different from, well, me.

The New York Times - Health

The Yankees of May 2010 are hardly different from the Yankees of May 2009.

The New York Times

Note, too, that refined flour is hardly different from sugar once it gets into the body.

The New York Times - Health

The agency rejected the suggestion, arguing that it was hardly different than the existing standard of "intent".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly different" to subtly indicate similarities where a complete equivalence might be too strong a statement. This allows for nuanced comparisons.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly different" when there are obvious and significant differences. This phrase is best used when similarities outweigh the variations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly different" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of near similarity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to express that two items are almost, but not completely, the same.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly different" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate a close similarity between two or more entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English. Its strength lies in its ability to convey subtle comparisons. While completely interchangeable alternatives like "virtually identical" exist, "hardly different" allows writers to acknowledge minimal differences. Predominantly found in News & Media and scientific sources, "hardly different" can be deemed appropriate for multiple registers. Remember to reserve it for scenarios where similarities are prominent, avoiding its use when discrepancies are substantial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely distinguishable

Emphasizes the difficulty in noticing any difference.

virtually identical

Indicates almost complete similarity, with negligible differences.

nearly the same

A more straightforward way of expressing close similarity.

almost indistinguishable

Highlights the challenge in telling the items apart.

scarcely unalike

A slightly more formal way to express little difference.

not significantly different

Emphasizes a lack of statistical or meaningful difference.

essentially equivalent

Suggests the items are functionally the same.

much the same

A concise way of saying that things are very similar.

little variation

Focuses on the absence of significant changes or divergence.

remarkably similar

Highlights the unexpected degree of likeness.

FAQs

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

You can use "hardly different" to compare two or more things that are very similar. For example, "The taste of this coffee is "hardly different" from the one I had yesterday".

What phrases can I use instead of "hardly different"?

Alternatives include "nearly the same", "virtually identical", or "almost indistinguishable", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "hardly different" and "slightly different"?

"Hardly different" implies a high degree of similarity, with minimal noticeable variations. "Slightly different", on the other hand, suggests that there are perceptible differences, though not necessarily major ones.

Is it correct to say "hardly different than" or "hardly different from"?

While both are sometimes used, "hardly different from" is generally considered more grammatically correct and is more commonly found in formal writing. For example: "The new version is "hardly different from" the previous one".