hardly necessary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly necessary" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not essential or required, often implying that it is excessive or superfluous. Example: "The additional report was hardly necessary, as the initial findings were already clear."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hardly necessary.

The New Yorker

But it's hardly necessary.

Independent

This was hardly necessary.

The Economist

Further analysis is hardly necessary.

The New York Times

But it is hardly necessary year round.

The New York Times

It was hardly necessary, she said.

The New York Times

Code words for death were hardly necessary.

The New York Times

For most people, the statistical proof was hardly necessary.

Independent

Leroy Fer's third in added time was hardly necessary.

The Guardian - Sport

It was hardly necessary even to slow down.

The New Yorker

It was hardly necessary for the title writer to make her talk with so many z's.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly necessary" to politely suggest that an action or item is not essential, especially when you want to avoid being overly critical. It's a subtle way to imply something is superfluous or even wasteful.

Common error

While "hardly necessary" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound dismissive. Instead, vary your language with more direct alternatives like "unnecessary", "redundant", or "superfluous" for a stronger impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly necessary" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier expressing a low degree of necessity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something is not essential or required. Examples show it modifying actions or items deemed superfluous.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly necessary" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves as an adverbial modifier to indicate that something is not essential or required. Ludwig AI confirms this, highlighting its primary function in politely suggesting superfluity. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse in formal writing by considering alternatives such as "unnecessary" or "redundant". Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely needed

Emphasizes that something is only just needed, implying it's almost not required at all.

scarcely required

Indicates that something is only just required, suggesting a minimal necessity.

not really required

A straightforward way of saying something is not essential.

not particularly important

Focuses on the lack of significance of something.

largely unnecessary

Highlights that the major part of something is not needed.

mostly superfluous

Indicates that something is mainly extra and not required.

of little consequence

Highlights the minor impact or relevance of something.

hardly vital

Emphasizes that something is not essential or crucial.

somewhat avoidable

Suggests that something can be bypassed or prevented.

minimally crucial

Indicates the importance of something is minimal.

FAQs

What does "hardly necessary" mean?

The phrase "hardly necessary" means something is not essential or required. It suggests that something is superfluous or could easily be omitted without consequence.

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

You can use "hardly necessary" to express that something is not needed. For example, "The extra report was "barely needed" because the initial findings were clear."

What are some alternatives to saying "hardly necessary"?

Alternatives to "hardly necessary" include "not really required", "largely unnecessary", or "mostly superfluous" depending on the context.

Is "hardly necessary" the same as "unnecessary"?

While similar, "hardly necessary" often carries a slightly softer tone than "unnecessary". "Unnecessary" is a more direct statement, while "hardly necessary" can imply a gentle suggestion that something is not essential.