have barely been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have barely been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has occurred to a very small extent or for a very short time. Example: "They have barely been able to keep up with the demands of the project due to unforeseen challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The opportunities have barely been tapped.

The Guardian

Some will have barely been in the sea before.

The Guardian

So far, the words "climate change" have barely been uttered.

The New Yorker

And as yet, the two toilets have barely been noticed.

The New York Times

They have barely been hitting it at all.

The New York Times

However, the influences of ICAWS on drivers' visual performance have barely been discussed.

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Soldiers, omnipresent in Conakry in the past year, have barely been in evidence in recent days.

The New York Times

The candidates have barely been in the state since the debate.

The New York Times

The incidents have barely been mentioned in the South Korean media.

The New York Times

But the actual procedures for co-ordination have barely been spelt out, let alone rehearsed.

The Economist

Telecommunications exchanges, destroyed by the jihadists as they fled, have barely been restored.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have barely been", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject has had limited exposure to or involvement in. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "have barely been" when a stronger term like "never" or "rarely" is more appropriate. "Have barely been" implies some degree of occurrence, however minimal, while other terms indicate complete absence or extreme infrequency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have barely been" functions as a stative verb phrase, indicating a state of limited occurrence or minimal action. It is used to describe situations where something has happened to a very small extent or for a very short duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have barely been" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate that something has occurred to a minimal degree or for a short duration. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, and it appears frequently across news, scientific, and academic contexts. It's crucial to use "have barely been" when the intention is to emphasize a limited occurrence, and to avoid it when a stronger term implying complete absence is more appropriate. Consider alternatives such as "have hardly been" or "have just been" to fine-tune the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have hardly been

Emphasizes a slightly stronger sense of infrequency or lack of occurrence than "have barely been".

have scarcely been

Similar to "have hardly been", but with a slightly more formal tone.

have only just been

Adds emphasis to the recency and limited extent of the action.

have just been

Indicates something has happened very recently, focusing on the timing rather than the extent.

have marginally been

Indicates a very small degree or extent of something happening.

have recently been

Focuses on the recency of the event, without necessarily implying a lack of extent.

have slightly been

Suggests a minimal degree or impact.

have seldom been

Indicates infrequency or rareness, which is similar to a very small extent of occurrence.

have infrequently been

More formal way of saying "have seldom been", focusing on the lack of frequency.

have negligibly been

Emphasizes that the impact or effect has been so small as to be almost nonexistent.

FAQs

How can I use "have barely been" in a sentence?

You can use "have barely been" to indicate something has occurred to a minimal degree or for a short time, as in "The opportunities "have barely been" tapped" or "The incidents "have barely been" mentioned in the South Korean media".

What are some alternatives to "have barely been"?

Alternatives include "have hardly been", "have scarcely been", or "have just been", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "have barely been" and "have hardly been"?

"Have barely been" and "have hardly been" are quite similar, but "have hardly been" often implies a slightly stronger sense of infrequency or lack of occurrence.

When is it inappropriate to use "have barely been"?

It's inappropriate to use "have barely been" when you want to express that something has not happened at all or is extremely rare. In such cases, consider using "have never been" or "have rarely been".