hardly ever has a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly ever has a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurs very infrequently or rarely. Example: "She hardly ever has a chance to relax due to her busy schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, hardly ever has an environmental factor been hold responsible for the observed excess of cases; such clusters were probably due to chance alone (Bellec et al, 2005).

British Journal of Cancer

I, for one, hardly ever had a proper conversation with my father".

The New York Times

I'm a freelance content creator and features writer, which means I hardly ever have a holiday.

The Guardian

"We hardly ever have a chance to be alone, and being together in the dark like this is very nice".

The New York Times

Al Smith, Jr. asked Police Commissioner McLaughlin to transfer a police officer who lived on Staten Island and was stationed in the Bronx and hardly ever had a chance to spend any time with his family.

The New Yorker

He is aware that when he is angry, he is more frightening than he means to be: 'People have got an impression of me as being very violent but I've hardly ever had a fight in my life.

The Guardian - Film

By Ralph Ingersoll The New Yorker, April 9 , 1927P. 17 Al Smith, Jr. asked Police Commissioner McLaughlin to transfer a police officer who lived on Staten Island and was stationed in the Bronx and hardly ever had a chance to spend any time with his family.

The New Yorker

Ofcom also said that the majority of people it surveyed never or hardly ever had a blocked call or dropped calls.

BBC

The streets are packed with big trucks and SUVs (sport utility vehicles --not at all like the cars you see throughout Europe--but in spite of this, you hardly evehicles --notblem finding a parking space!

Science Magazine

We hardly ever had a bad day.

Los Angeles Times

I hardly ever have a negative opinion about music.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly ever has a", ensure the context clearly indicates the rarity or infrequency of the subject being discussed. This phrase works best when emphasizing the exceptional nature of an event or characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly ever has a" in very informal or casual conversations, as it can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "almost never" or "rarely" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly ever has a" functions as an adverbial modifier indicating the infrequency of an event or the scarcity of possession. It's used to qualify a verb, highlighting how rarely something occurs or exists. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly ever has a" is grammatically sound, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, and functions as an adverbial modifier to denote infrequency or scarcity. While correct, its usage is limited. It indicates that something seldom possesses a particular attribute or experiences a specific occurrence. Given its slightly formal tone, it is better suited for professional or neutral contexts rather than casual conversation. Related phrases such as "rarely has a" or "almost never has a" can offer more suitable alternatives in some situations. Due to a lack of examples, usage patterns could not be determined.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rarely has a

Replaces "hardly ever" with "rarely", which is a more direct synonym indicating infrequency.

seldom has a

Uses "seldom" instead of "hardly ever", providing a slightly more formal tone.

almost never has a

Substitutes "hardly ever" with "almost never", emphasizing the near absence of the occurrence.

scarcely ever has a

Employs "scarcely ever" to convey a sense of minimal or infrequent presence.

infrequently has a

Replaces "hardly ever" with the adverb "infrequently", making the sentence more formal.

barely ever has a

Uses "barely ever" to suggest that something almost doesn't happen or exist.

virtually never has a

Substitutes "hardly ever" with "virtually never", indicating that something is close to never happening.

on rare occasions has a

Rephrases the sentence to highlight the rarity of the occurrence, using a longer, more descriptive phrase.

hardly a single instance of

Shifts the focus to the lack of instances, using a noun phrase to convey the scarcity.

there's hardly any

Changes the structure to a more general statement about the lack of something, rather than a specific instance.

FAQs

What does "hardly ever has a" mean?

The phrase "hardly ever has a" means that something almost never possesses or experiences a particular attribute or occurrence. It indicates a very low frequency or near absence.

What can I say instead of "hardly ever has a"?

You can use alternatives like "rarely has a", "seldom has a", or "almost never has a" depending on the context.

Is "hardly ever has a" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly ever has a" is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English grammar rules, though it's relatively formal.

How do I use "hardly ever has a" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly ever has a" to describe something that infrequently possesses a quality. For example: "She hardly ever has a day off from work".