hardly too much

USAGE SUMMARY

'hardly too much' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in situations where you want to indicate that a small amount of something is barely enough. For example: He had barely enough money to cover rent; hardly too much to buy groceries.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Given its six-minute length, that was hardly too much to ask.

The New York Times - Arts

It seems hardly too much to say that in the way of heroic memorial there has been nothing nobler done.

The New York Times

After a wait of 55 years, a delay of a few days as New York recovered from Hurricane Sandy seemed hardly too much to ask.

The New York Times - Sports

Consider that $500 million is 0.22% of annual individual giving to charity — hardly too much of an investment to ask to direct and evaluate all of that giving.

Harvard Business Review

The basic V-8 is a 4.6-liter that develops 231 horsepower and 293 pounds-feet of torque -- hardly too much for heavy-duty use.

The New York Times

Even if Alabama state legislators aren't interested in helping low-wage workers get the raise they deserve, it is hardly too much to expect them to respect the legitimacy of the decision of the people of Birmingham.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Too much is just too much.

WikiHow

This hardly seems too much to ask, even for prisoners who, unlike Sunnat, are actually found guilty of a crime.

The New Yorker

Having stuffed the bird (crop and body), rub it very lavishly with softened butter, putting the lumps between the thighs and body; there can hardly be too much.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Central bankers should do their job stabilise prices, secure financial stability and, in America's case, maximise employment whatever the politicians get up to.By those yardsticks central banks have hardly done too much.

The Economist

If you're a state senator or representative, pushing your own voting button when it's time to cast a vote hardly seems like too much to ask.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly too much" when you want to downplay the significance or amount of something, suggesting it is barely sufficient or not excessive in any way. It can be effective in persuasive arguments to reassure an audience.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly too much" when you actually mean something is abundant or excessive. The phrase is designed to minimize, so ensure your intent aligns with its meaning to prevent miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly too much" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to express that something is barely sufficient or not at all excessive. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

14%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Science

14%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly too much" functions as an adverbial phrase used to downplay or minimize something, suggesting it is barely sufficient or not excessive. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It is generally used in neutral contexts, including news, business, and general writing. Examples on Ludwig show it's used to reassure or persuade, implying that something is reasonable. While "hardly too much" is not extremely frequent, it is a useful phrase for expressing a minimal or non-excessive degree.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely sufficient

Replaces "hardly too much" with a direct synonym for minimal adequacy.

scarcely excessive

Emphasizes the lack of excessiveness, similar to "hardly too much".

only just enough

Focuses on the idea that something is just meeting the minimum requirement.

not at all excessive

Directly negates the idea of being excessive, akin to "hardly too much".

minimally adequate

Highlights the bare minimum level of adequacy.

just barely adequate

Strengthens the idea of minimal adequacy with an emphasis on "barely".

hardly extravagant

Replaces 'much' with its synonym and highlights it's not too lavish.

not even close to being excessive

Offers a more emphatic way of saying something isn't too much.

by no means excessive

Emphasizes the absence of excess in a more formal tone.

far from excessive

Indicates that something is quite the opposite of excessive.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly too much" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly too much" to suggest that something is barely sufficient or not excessive. For example, "A delay of a few days after a 55-year wait is "hardly too much" to ask."

What are some alternatives to saying "hardly too much"?

Alternatives include "barely sufficient", "scarcely excessive", or "only just enough", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "hardly too much"?

Yes, "hardly too much" is grammatically correct. It functions as an adverbial phrase that modifies a verb or adjective to indicate a minimal or non-excessive degree.

When is it appropriate to use "hardly too much" in writing?

Use "hardly too much" when you want to downplay the importance or size of something, suggesting it's not a big deal or is just adequate. For instance, "Asking for respect is "hardly too much" to expect."