hardly speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

"hardly speaking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically is used to describe someone who is not talking, or talking in a quiet way. For example, "She was so nervous that she was hardly speaking during the interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

General Conversation

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Mom peeled off, still hardly speaking to me.

The New York Times - Magazine

McDonagh wrote every day, seldom leaving the house and hardly speaking to anyone.

The New Yorker

She made strong coffee and popovers, and they combed through the newspapers for hours, hardly speaking.

The New York Times - Style

Another man continues to attend the sessions despite slipping into dementia and hardly speaking.

The Guardian

What can I tell you?" Auriemma was hardly speaking in anger.

The New York Times - Sports

His young nephews, however, are growing up "only eating American food and hardly speaking Hmong," which saddens him.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

She hardly spoke.

The New Yorker

"I could hardly speak.

The New York Times

He could hardly speak".

The New York Times

I hardly spoke then.

The Guardian - Sport

He can hardly speak.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly speaking" to describe situations where someone is intentionally or unintentionally limiting their verbal communication. It implies a noticeable reduction in speech.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly speaking" when complete silence is intended. The phrase suggests some level of communication, even if minimal. If there is complete silence, opt for "not speaking at all".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly speaking" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier, describing the manner in which someone is communicating. It indicates a significant reduction in the amount of speech. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, which show its use in various contexts to denote limited verbal interaction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

General Conversation

25%

Literature

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hardly speaking" is a commonly used phrase that indicates a reduced amount of verbal communication. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news and media sources, as well as in general conversation. The phrase is used to describe situations where someone is limiting their speech due to emotional distance, shyness, or other factors. Remember to use alternatives like "barely uttering a word" or "remaining mostly silent" when appropriate, and avoid using it when complete silence is intended. Ludwig's examples offer valuable context for understanding its nuanced applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

almost never speaking

Indicates a near absence of speech, close to never speaking.

mostly not talking

Directly states the lack of speech as the primary behavior.

remaining mostly silent

Focuses on the state of silence as the predominant condition.

barely uttering a word

Emphasizes the minimal amount of speech, focusing on the act of uttering.

communicating very little verbally

Stresses the limited amount of verbal communication taking place.

giving few verbal responses

Focuses on the scarcity of verbal replies.

rarely vocalizing thoughts

Highlights the infrequency of expressing thoughts verbally.

minimally expressing oneself verbally

Highlights the limited expression of thoughts or feelings through speech.

infrequently engaging in conversation

Highlights the low frequency of participating in conversations.

seldom exchanging words

Emphasizes the rarity of exchanging words with others.

FAQs

What does "hardly speaking" mean?

The phrase "hardly speaking" indicates that someone is saying very little or almost nothing. It suggests a significant reduction in verbal communication.

What can I say instead of "hardly speaking"?

You can use alternatives like "barely uttering a word", "remaining mostly silent", or "almost never speaking", depending on the context.

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

For example, "After their argument, they were "hardly speaking" to each other", indicating a strained relationship and limited communication.

Is "hardly speaking" grammatically correct?

Yes, "hardly speaking" is grammatically correct. The word "hardly" is an adverb modifying the verb "speaking", indicating the degree to which the action is happening.