has barely been used

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has barely been used" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an item or resource that has seen very little use or activity. Example: "The new software has barely been used since its installation last month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

That fund, paltry though it was, has barely been used.

The Guardian - Opinion

More importantly, naval and air force firepower has barely been used in Iraq.

The Guardian

Mr. Gans expressed enthusiasm about a product that has barely been used in this country: autoclaved aerated concrete.

The New York Times

Since the 2008 Games the Bird's Nest has barely been used for sport and earns its keep mainly as a tourist attraction.

The Guardian - Sport

Set up by Labour inside the Bank of England in January 2009 it has barely been used, buying less than £100m of commercial paper and £1.3bn of corporate bonds last year – compared with £200bn spent on hoovering up government bonds under QE.

The Guardian - Business

But the palace has barely been used by Sri Lanka's presidents.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Three of them have remained in operation, though they have barely been used in recent years.

The New York Times

The military was always going to be involved - providing high-end specialist capabilities like flying RAF Typhoons and Lynx Helicopters or being on stand-by as bomb disposal teams - most of these capabilities have barely been used.

BBC

In this study, a low valence biogenic Mn oxide, a poorly crystallized bixbyite-like Mn2O3 (α-Mn2O3), which has barely been studied in the past several decades, was used as an adsorbent and the adsorption mechanisms of Cu II) on it were studied.

Geochemical Transactions

However, this land-use change has barely been studied empirically beyond the net changes of land-use categories.

Land Use Policy

This important issue has barely been addressed in studies on self other differences with respect to substance use.

Addiction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the underutilization of a resource, consider the specific context. Using synonyms like "seldom employed" or "scarcely utilized" can add nuance and formality to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "has barely been used" when the subject has seen absolutely no use. Opt for phrases like "remains completely unused" or "has never been used" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has barely been used" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of minimal utilization. It describes that something exists but sees very little action or application. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase is employed in multiple contexts to convey underuse.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

28%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has barely been used" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to indicate that something has seen very little use. As shown by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to highlight a state of underutilization. While suitable for various contexts, from news to general conversation, more formal or scientific publications may benefit from more precise vocabulary. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media sources, and it's crucial to avoid overstating the degree of disuse when employing this expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has scarcely been utilized

Replaces "barely" with "scarcely" and "used" with "utilized", making it slightly more formal.

has hardly been employed

Substitutes "barely" with "hardly" and "used" with "employed", resulting in a more formal tone.

has infrequently been operated

Replaces "barely" with "infrequently" and "used" with "operated", emphasizing the lack of activity or function.

has seldom been put to use

Substitutes "barely" with "seldom" and adds "put to use" for emphasis on the action of using something.

has rarely been activated

Replaces "barely" with "rarely" and "used" with "activated", focusing on the initiation of a process or function.

remains largely unused

Expresses a similar meaning by stating that the subject "remains largely unused", altering the sentence structure.

is almost never exercised

Shifts the focus to the lack of exercise or practice, replacing "used" with "exercised".

sees minimal application

Uses a more formal and concise structure to indicate that the subject "sees minimal application".

is virtually untouched

Emphasizes the lack of use by stating that the subject is "virtually untouched".

is essentially dormant

Implies a complete lack of use by describing the subject as "essentially dormant".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has barely been used" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "has scarcely been utilized", "has infrequently been operated", or "has seldom been put to use" depending on the specific context.

What's a simpler way to say "has barely been used"?

Simpler alternatives include "is virtually untouched", "remains largely unused", or "is essentially dormant" for a more direct expression.

Is "has barely been used" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "has barely been used" may be too informal for some academic contexts. Consider more precise or formal alternatives such as "has scarcely been utilized" or "sees minimal application" to maintain a scholarly tone.

What's the difference between "has barely been used" and "has never been used"?

"Has barely been used" implies minimal or infrequent use, while "has never been used" indicates a complete absence of use. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the extent to which something has been utilized.