hardly reach

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly reach" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is difficult to achieve or attain, often implying that the effort required is significant compared to the outcome. Example: "With the current budget constraints, we can hardly reach our sales targets this quarter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

They drink polluted water and food can hardly reach them.

The Guardian

The young Mr. Paul can hardly reach the microphone.

The New York Times

We could hardly reach them because of the smell," he said.

The Guardian

Light biomass particles were enriched at the bottom of the furnace, and could hardly reach the furnace outlet.

Powder Technology

The Phillies bounded into the room and found large bins filled with drinks that would hardly reach their mouths.

The New York Times - Sports

To begin with, Kinjah recalled, young Froome rode an old road bike borrowed from one of his teachers; he could hardly reach the pedals.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Mr McCain's appeal hardly reaches such heights.

The Economist

She sat down on a chair, her bare feet hardly reaching the floor.

The New Yorker

In the 2000s, however, the recovery hardly reached the middle or poor households at all.

The New York Times

But he was hardly reaching a determination about the Fed job from a position of strength.

The New Yorker

The father-son contention hardly reaches Grand Inquisitor level; Thomas is decidedly outmatched.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly reach", ensure the context clearly indicates a challenge or difficulty in achieving a specific goal or state. For instance, "The project can "hardly reach" its deadline with the current resource constraints."

Common error

Avoid using "hardly reach" when the intended meaning is simply "not reach". "Hardly reach" implies a near miss or a significant struggle, not a complete absence of reaching.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly reach" primarily functions as a qualifier, indicating the extent or degree to which an action or state is achieved. Ludwig's examples show it denotes a difficulty or struggle in attaining a certain level or target.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

52%

Science & Research

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly reach" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signifies difficulty in attaining a specific goal or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys a sense of challenge or limitation. Found frequently in scientific and news contexts, as shown by the data, "hardly reach" is considered to have a neutral register and can be effectively used in formal and informal settings. When writing, remember that "hardly reach" implies a near miss or a significant struggle and should not be used when the intended meaning is simply "not reach".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely attain

Focuses on achieving something by a narrow margin, similar to "hardly reach" but emphasizes the achievement aspect.

scarcely achieve

Similar to "hardly reach", suggesting difficulty and a low probability of success.

narrowly attain

Highlights the closeness of achieving something, differing slightly from the broader sense of "hardly reach".

fall just short of

Emphasizes the failure to fully achieve something, whereas "hardly reach" focuses more on the difficulty.

struggle to attain

Emphasizes the effort involved, adding a layer of meaning not explicitly present in "hardly reach".

find it difficult to reach

More descriptive and less concise than "hardly reach", focusing on the perceived difficulty.

have difficulty reaching

Similar to the previous option, highlighting the challenge in reaching a goal.

only just manage to reach

Highlights managing to reach the point after some difficulty.

almost fail to reach

Emphasizes the near failure, adding a sense of risk or potential negative outcome compared to "hardly reach".

can barely get to

Focuses on the minimal ability to arrive at a place or achieve a state, implying a struggle or limitation.

FAQs

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

Use "hardly reach" to indicate that something struggles to attain a certain level or target, implying difficulty. For example, "The team can "hardly reach" its sales goals this quarter."

What are some alternatives to saying "hardly reach"?

You can use alternatives like "barely attain", "scarcely achieve", or "struggle to attain" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "hardly reach" in formal writing?

Yes, "hardly reach" is suitable for formal writing. It's grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts, including academic, business, and news reports.

What's the difference between "hardly reach" and "not reach"?

"Hardly reach" implies a struggle or a near miss in attaining something, whereas "not reach" simply means failing to attain it. "The company can "hardly reach" its target" suggests they might come close but are facing difficulties. "The company did not reach its target" simply states they failed to meet it.