hardly true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly true" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express skepticism or doubt about the truthfulness of a statement or claim. Example: "The claim that he is the best player in the league is hardly true, considering his recent performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

This is hardly true.

The Guardian - Opinion

At 60, that is hardly true.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is hardly true of the Kochs.

The New York Times

Casablanca stands for movie romance in great part because it is hardly true to life.

The Guardian - Film

Landon Donovan's self-imposed exile from soccer has often been described as unprecedented or unusual, but this is hardly true.

The New York Times - Sports

However, a key limitation of these works is that they assume queries and answers are parallel texts, which is hardly true in reality.

Knowledge-Based Systems

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

But that has hardly proved true.

The New York Times

This argument hardly rings true in New Jersey, though, given the state's history of judicial activism.

The Economist

If Obama does not support this view, they argue, then he is hardly a true American.

The New York Times

It isn't entirely false – but it's hardly ever true.

The Guardian - Opinion

The republican cause isn't helped by the fact that there are hardly any true monarchists around anyway.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hardly true" when you want to express a polite disagreement or cast doubt on a statement without being overly confrontational. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "hardly true" is versatile, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise or nuanced language to express your skepticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly true" functions as a qualifier, softening a disagreement or expressing doubt about the validity of a statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard phrase used to indicate something is not quite accurate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

28%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hardly true" serves as a polite yet skeptical way to express disagreement or doubt. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is considered grammatically correct and appears frequently across various contexts. Its usage spans from news and media to scientific publications, indicating its versatility. While direct disagreement can be confrontational, "hardly true" offers a more nuanced approach, suggesting that a statement may not be entirely accurate without outright dismissing it. For similar expressions, consider alternatives such as "scarcely true", "not really true", or "not entirely true".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely true

Replaces "hardly" with "scarcely", a synonym with a slightly more formal tone.

not really true

Uses a more direct negation, softening the impact with "really".

barely true

Emphasizes the minimal extent to which something is true.

not quite true

Indicates that a statement is close to being accurate but falls short.

not entirely true

Acknowledges a portion of truth while negating the whole.

somewhat misleading

Shifts the focus to the potential for deception or misunderstanding.

a bit of an exaggeration

Suggests that a statement has been embellished beyond the truth.

a stretch of the truth

Implies that a statement deviates significantly from factual accuracy.

far from the truth

Indicates a significant divergence from reality.

patently false

Emphasizes the obviousness of the falsehood.

FAQs

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

You can use "hardly true" to express disagreement or doubt about something someone said. For example, "The claim that he is the best candidate is "hardly true", given his lack of experience."

What can I say instead of "hardly true"?

Alternatives to "hardly true" include "not really true", "scarcely true", or "not entirely true", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "hardly true" the same as "not true"?

"Hardly true" implies a weaker contradiction than "not true". "Not true" is a direct negation, whereas "hardly true" suggests something is only slightly or questionably accurate.

When is it appropriate to use "hardly true" instead of a stronger disagreement?

Use "hardly true" when you want to be polite or diplomatic in expressing your disagreement. It's useful when you don't want to directly contradict someone but want to imply doubt or skepticism.