have hardly ever

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have hardly ever" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express an infrequent or rare occurrence and is often used in the negative (e.g. "I have hardly ever seen such a beautiful sunset").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"I have hardly ever seen 5percentt," Dr. Renwick said.

The New York Times

However, they have hardly ever been viewed as artifacts in their own right.

University of California, Berkeley

Patient empowerment and health literacy have both been studied empirically, but they have hardly ever been explicitly linked.

Patient Education and Counseling

One may wonder why countries have hardly ever issued GDP-linked securities.

The Guardian - Business

However we have hardly ever criticized the basic articulation of living spaces into a preordered set of rooms.

Yale University

"I have hardly ever been to Williamsburg, but I understand that that is where it is happening," Mr. McCoy said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

We've hardly ever worked together.

The New York Times

"I've hardly ever recorded in Hull.

The Guardian

It has hardly ever been used.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had hardly ever been out of Nebraska.

The New Yorker

Hollywood has hardly ever taken a lonely stand for liberty.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have hardly ever", ensure the sentence structure is clear and grammatically correct. It typically precedes a past participle verb form.

Common error

Avoid using "have hardly ever" when you mean something never happens at all. "Hardly ever" implies some occurrence, however infrequent, unlike "never" which indicates complete absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have hardly ever" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the infrequency of an action or experience. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in expressing rarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have hardly ever" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something occurs infrequently. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, but less common in formal academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. While it effectively conveys rarity, it's crucial to differentiate its meaning from "have never", which indicates complete absence. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage and provides numerous examples from authoritative sources. Related alternatives such as "have almost never" or "have rarely ever" can be used to express similar ideas with subtle variations in tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have almost never

Emphasizes nearness to never, suggesting a slightly higher degree of infrequency.

have scarcely ever

Uses "scarcely" for a more formal and literary tone, indicating rarity.

have rarely ever

Synonymous, but "rarely" is a more common alternative to "hardly".

have virtually never

Highlights that an event is close to non-existent in one's experience.

have practically never

Suggests that an event nearly never happens, focusing on practical experience.

have infrequently

Uses an adverb to express that something happens not very often.

have seldom ever

Similar in meaning, using "seldom" to denote infrequency.

have barely ever

Indicates minimal or slight occurrence.

have not often

A more direct way of expressing infrequency.

have only just

Suggests that something has only recently started happening or existing.

FAQs

How can I use "have hardly ever" in a sentence?

You can use "have hardly ever" to express that something happens very rarely. For example, "I "have hardly ever seen" such dedication" indicates that you've rarely witnessed such dedication.

What's a good alternative to "have hardly ever"?

Alternatives include "have almost never", "have rarely ever", or "have scarcely ever", each conveying a similar sense of infrequency with slight nuances in formality and emphasis.

What is the difference between "have hardly ever" and "have never"?

"Have hardly ever" indicates that something occurs very rarely, whereas "have never" means it has not occurred at all. The former implies some possibility, however small, while the latter is absolute.

Is it correct to say "have hardly never"?

No, "have hardly never" is generally considered incorrect due to the double negative. "Hardly" already implies a negative, so using "never" in addition creates a contradiction. The correct phrasing is "have hardly ever" or "have never".