hardly due

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly due" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something is not really due or expected, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report is hardly due this week, as we have an extension until next month."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Indonesia's shift away from wild harvesting even as other exporters (notably Australia) expand theirs, is hardly due to chance.

The New York Times

"Another idea is that younger people especially children should be given priority because they are more innocent, and that health risks and diseases that affect them are hardly due to behavior for which they could be held responsible," observed Skirbekk.

Columbia University

The injuries have eroded the Giants' defense since the beginning of the season, but Sunday's collapse was hardly due to talent inequality; McNair was playing hurt, and Tennessee was playing without its best receiver, Kevin Dyson.

The New York Times - Sports

This ambiguity is hardly due to inadvertence.

Forbes

The discrepancy in earnings is hardly due to a lack of education, qualifications, or participation in the job market.

Huffington Post

Fred Trump's real estate fortune was hardly due to his faith in the free market, but instead stemmed from his reliance on government subsidies.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Hardly the due diligence skills of Hercule Poirot, are they?

The Guardian - Business

This weekend, Auxerre drew 0-0 agaiNancyancy in a game that the 6,548 crowd could hardly see due to fog.

The Guardian - Sport

When the poker card is focused, the screw is hardly seen due to strong out of focus blur.

Nature

Besides structured databases, written reports hold unstructured information hardly exploitable due to the lack of vocabulary and syntax standardization.

Procedia CIRP

In reality, the implementation of this approach within the CNS would be hardly feasible, due to a variety of technical issues9,10,11.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "hardly due" with clearer alternatives such as "not really due to" or "scarcely attributable to" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly due" when you mean to express a weak or uncertain causal relationship. This phrase can confuse readers, so opt for more precise language to convey the intended degree of influence or likelihood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly due" functions as a causal connector, attempting to indicate that something is not directly or strongly caused by a particular factor. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hardly due" aims to express a weak causal connection, its usage is grammatically questionable and potentially confusing. Ludwig AI considers the phrase to be incorrect. The analysis reveals that the phrase appears in a mix of news, scientific, and academic contexts, but clearer alternatives, such as ""not really due to"" or ""scarcely attributable to"", are recommended for improved clarity and precision. Writers should favor more direct and unambiguous language to convey the intended degree of influence or likelihood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not really due to

Replaces "hardly" with "not really", softening the negation while maintaining the causal connection.

scarcely attributable to

Offers a more formal and precise alternative, emphasizing the difficulty of directly linking cause and effect.

not primarily caused by

Highlights that the stated factor is not the main cause, allowing for other contributing factors.

unlikely to result from

Shifts the focus to the probability of a particular outcome, suggesting it's improbable.

not mainly a consequence of

Emphasizes that the stated factor is not the chief consequence, suggesting other significant effects.

not particularly linked to

Suggests a weak connection or association between the factors involved.

barely related to

Indicates a minimal or tenuous relationship between the elements.

not especially because of

Replaces "hardly" with "not especially", diminishing the strength of the causal link.

remotely connected to

Implies a distant or indirect connection between the factors.

tangentially related to

Suggests a slight or peripheral connection, where the factors are only marginally linked.

FAQs

What does "hardly due" mean?

The phrase "hardly due" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English. It may be intended to express that something is not really due or expected, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear.

How can I use "hardly due" in a sentence correctly?

It's best to avoid the phrase "hardly due" due to its lack of clarity. Instead, use alternatives like "not really due to" or "scarcely attributable to" to express a weak or uncertain causal relationship.

What can I say instead of "hardly due"?

Alternatives to "hardly due" include "not primarily caused by", "unlikely to result from", or "barely related to", depending on the specific context and intended meaning.

Is it more appropriate to use "hardly due to" or "not really due to"?

"Not really due to" is generally a better choice than "hardly due to" because it is clearer and more grammatically sound. The phrase "hardly due" is awkward, while "not really due to" expresses uncertainty or indirect causation more effectively.