hardly perceptible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly perceptible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult to notice or detect due to its subtlety or faintness. Example: "The changes in the painting were hardly perceptible, but they added a new depth to the artwork."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

At first it would be hardly perceptible, the smallest haunted look in our eyes, a dark shadow on our faces.

The New Yorker

If there is a broad sense that peak Washington is already past, it's hardly perceptible in the city itself.

The New York Times - Magazine

The minute variations from panel to panel are hardly perceptible, challenging the viewer to draw the distinctions.

The New York Times

On the jungle floor, the light was hardly perceptible, offering only shadowy intimations of the surrounding forest.

The New Yorker

Then in the distance, hardly perceptible at first, the hum of a vehicle, coming uphill towards us, hidden at first by the curve of the road.

The Guardian - Books

Peaked eyebrows, as if he were, ruefully, one of them — a trick from the actors' repertoire contradicted by a momentary, hardly perceptible contact of those eyes with her own, diamonds, black with the intensity that it was his talent to summon, a stage prop taken up and at once released, at will.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Before that your-skin-is-too-small-for-your-flesh feeling and the slowly building �� barely perceptible, so you hardly even know it's happening – layer-on-layer semi-hangover that wakes you up every morning, this is inarguably A Good Thing.

Vice

Sometimes the division is barely perceptible: it just makes sense.

The Guardian

Facebook just made a barely perceptible change to its website.

The Guardian - Tech

Those millions were barely perceptible in the survey numbers and hardly noticed in Washington.

Huffington Post

It need hardly be said that Mr. Bogart ultimately achieves this renunciation with a scarcely perceptible pang and with a line of skilful and disarming dialogue which says that nobility ill becomes the character he plays.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing changes or differences, use "hardly perceptible" to convey subtlety and nuance, indicating that the change is so small that it's difficult to notice without careful observation. For example, "The adjustments to the formula were "barely noticeable", but they improved the product's effectiveness."

Common error

Avoid using "hardly perceptible" when the change or difference is actually quite noticeable. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the subtlety is a key element of the description. If something is merely "slightly noticeable", consider that alternative phrasing instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly perceptible" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes a quality of something being almost impossible to perceive. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly perceptible" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase that describes something difficult to notice or detect. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is widely used across news, scientific, and academic contexts to emphasize the subtlety of a change or sensation. While alternatives like ""barely noticeable"" and "almost imperceptible" exist, "hardly perceptible" maintains a neutral to formal tone, making it suitable for professional and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the described change or difference is genuinely subtle and requires careful observation to appreciate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Barely noticeable

Indicates something is difficult to see or detect; slightly less formal than "hardly perceptible".

Almost imperceptible

Highlights the near impossibility of perceiving something, maintaining a formal tone.

Scarcely detectable

Emphasizes the difficulty in detecting something, using a more formal and technical tone.

Faintly visible

Specifically refers to visual perception, implying something is only weakly visible.

Slightly detectable

Indicates that something can be detected, but only with difficulty.

Minimally discernible

Stresses the minimal ability to distinguish something, suitable for technical contexts.

Subtly apparent

Suggests that something is present but not immediately obvious, requiring careful observation.

Indistinctly perceived

Focuses on the lack of clarity in perception, suggesting vagueness.

Vaguely sensed

Implies that something is felt or noticed in an unclear or indefinite way.

Nearly unnoticeable

Emphasizes how close something is to being completely unnoticeable.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly perceptible" to describe something that is difficult to notice or detect. For example, "The difference in taste between the two samples was "scarcely detectable"".

What can I say instead of "hardly perceptible"?

You can use alternatives like ""barely noticeable"", "almost imperceptible", or ""scarcely detectable"" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "hardly perceptible"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that something is so subtle that it's challenging to perceive, such as "The tremor was "faintly visible" only on specialized equipment".

What's the difference between "hardly perceptible" and "slightly noticeable"?

"Hardly perceptible" indicates something is very difficult to notice, almost to the point of being unnoticeable. "Slightly noticeable" implies it can be seen or detected with some effort but isn't immediately apparent.