hardly heard

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly heard" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is not easily heard or barely audible. It can also be used to express surprise or disbelief about something that was not heard clearly. Example: The speaker's voice was so soft that it was hardly heard by the audience. Example: I could hardly hear the music over the loud chatter of the crowd. Example: I was so focused on my work that I hardly heard my phone ring.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Their voices are hardly heard.

The Guardian

He is hardly heard from anymore.

The New York Times - Sports

Farrior was hardly heard from again.

The New York Times - Sports

The doctor told her a name which she hardly heard.

The New Yorker

In fact we hardly heard from each other.

The Guardian - Books

"But other than that, I've hardly heard it mentioned.

The Guardian - Sport

I have hardly heard any and don't like to.

The Guardian

We hardly heard anything when Pernotta was here".

The New Yorker

At first he hardly heard the sound behind him.

The New Yorker

I hardly heard any music comparable to Suchitra Mitra's, except her Tagore record issued in 1973.

Stanford University

In fact, I had hardly heard of the school before I started this blog.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly heard" to create a sense of mystery, distance, or lack of awareness, especially in descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly heard" when you mean 'completely unheard'. "Hardly" implies some minimal level of hearing or awareness, not a total absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly heard" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, describing the extent to which something is heard or perceived. Ludwig examples show it used to express difficulty in hearing or a lack of frequent occurrence. It highlights a diminished or minimal level of auditory reception or awareness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

14%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly heard" is a versatile phrase used to describe something that is difficult to hear, barely audible, or rarely encountered. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability. The phrase appears frequently in news, media, and academic contexts, indicating a neutral register suitable for various communication purposes. While it’s important to avoid using it when complete absence is intended, its proper usage can enhance descriptive writing and convey a sense of mystery or distance. The phrase is supported by numerous authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, further solidifying its reliability and appropriateness in diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely audible

Focuses on the audibility aspect, emphasizing the difficulty in hearing something.

scarcely audible

Similar to 'barely audible' but suggests an even lesser degree of audibility.

faintly heard

Highlights the weakness or indistinctness of the sound.

almost inaudible

Similar to 'barely audible', stressing the near impossibility of hearing something.

infrequently heard

Shifts the focus to the rarity of hearing something.

seldom heard

Emphasizes the infrequency of hearing something, similar to 'infrequently heard'.

rarely heard

Another way to express the uncommon occurrence of hearing something.

not often heard

A more literal way of saying something is infrequently heard.

virtually unheard

Implies that something is almost never heard.

dimly perceived

Expands the meaning to include things that are not just heard, but also generally difficult to notice or understand.

FAQs

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

You can use "hardly heard" to describe something that was barely audible, such as "The speaker's voice was so quiet it was "hardly heard" at the back of the room". It can also describe something that's rarely encountered, as in, "Her complaints were "hardly heard" until the situation became critical".

What can I say instead of "hardly heard"?

You can use alternatives like "barely audible" to describe something difficult to hear. If you mean something rarely encountered, try "infrequently heard" or "seldom heard".

Is it correct to say "I hardly heard" or "I could hardly hear"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "I "hardly heard"" implies you had minimal awareness of something. "I could "hardly hear"" focuses on the difficulty of perceiving the sound.

What's the difference between "hardly heard of" and "hardly heard from"?

"Hardly heard of" means you're barely familiar with something or someone. "Hardly heard from" means you've had little to no communication with someone.