hardly everyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly everyone" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically intended to convey that very few people are included, but the correct expression would be "hardly anyone" instead. Example: "At the event, hardly anyone showed up due to the bad weather."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Some security specialists agree, but hardly everyone.

The New York Times

Still, it's hardly everyone's cup of tea.

The Guardian - Arts

Of course, Rubin's approach is hardly everyone's cup of tea.

Forbes

To a smart, successful Google girl with a wicked slice I ask, "I would think you could walk into a bar, raise your hand, and walk out with any guy in there" to which she replies, "ha, hardly, everyone in bars these days is either coupled up or glued to their phone, scrolling through dating apps.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Circumstances, after all, could hardly suit everyone so well.

The Economist

They overwhelmingly voted No. Hardly surprising, everyone said, since Ireland was the most Catholic country in Europe.

Independent

Mr. Artaza's transformation from clown to gadfly has hardly pleased everyone, though.

The New York Times

Eden Lake is hardly for everyone: and I certainly can't claim to like it in any normal sense.

The Guardian - Film

Hardly giving everyone in the nation a free hand, then, even if lots of those may be subsidiaries of larger companies.

TechCrunch

But while it is always fair to confront any research with the question "so what?" and while you can hardly expect everyone to be interested in the mundane or the obscure, the fact is that behind much of what scientists do lies a good, and often extraordinary, story.

BBC

The mayor's remarks hardly reassured everyone, however.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "hardly everyone" in formal writing. Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "hardly anyone" or "almost no one" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Don't assume "hardly everyone" is acceptable because it sounds similar to other phrases. While it might be understood, it deviates from standard English. "Hardly anyone" is the correct construction to convey 'almost no one'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly everyone" functions as a quantifier, attempting to express a small quantity of people within a larger group. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies its misuse, suggesting more accurate alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "hardly everyone" appears in various online sources, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, "hardly anyone" or "almost no one" are more appropriate alternatives. The intended meaning is to convey that very few people are included in a particular context. Given its grammatical issues, it's advisable to avoid using "hardly everyone" in formal or academic writing, opting instead for clearer and more accurate alternatives to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hardly anyone

Replaces "everyone" with "anyone", correcting the grammatical structure to indicate very few people.

Almost no one

Uses "almost no one" to emphasize the near absence of people included.

Scarcely anyone

Employs "scarcely" to highlight the rarity of people involved.

Very few people

States directly that only a small number of people are being referred to.

Practically nobody

Uses "practically nobody" to suggest that almost no one is included.

Barely anybody

Emphasizes the minimal presence of individuals with "barely".

Almost nobody

Similar to "almost no one", indicating a near absence of people.

Just about nobody

Highlights the exclusion of almost everyone with "just about nobody".

Hardly a soul

A more idiomatic expression indicating the scarcity of people.

Next to nobody

Indicates that the number of people is very close to zero.

FAQs

Is "hardly everyone" grammatically correct?

No, "hardly everyone" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrase to use is "hardly anyone".

What does "hardly everyone" mean?

While not grammatically standard, "hardly everyone" is typically intended to mean 'almost no one'. It's better to use "almost no one" or "hardly anyone" for clarity.

What are some alternatives to "hardly everyone"?

Alternatives include "hardly anyone", "almost no one", "scarcely anyone", or "very few people". Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

Is it ever appropriate to use "hardly everyone"?

In most formal or academic contexts, it's best to avoid "hardly everyone". Stick to grammatically correct alternatives such as "hardly anyone" or "almost nobody" to ensure clear communication.