i barely see

USAGE SUMMARY

"I barely see" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe the fact that you can barely make something out. For example, you could say, "I can barely see the words on the page."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

He bows, so quickly that I barely see him, then disappears.

The New York Times

I live in a room in the roomof a boy I barely see.

The New Yorker

He says, "I barely see stupid gags or anti-Semitic tropes now".

The Economist

My colleagues are constantly away from the office on courses so I barely see them.

The Guardian - Opinion

I barely see Chris now but, of course, he brings a card to congratulate us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Here they're more the Miss Perkins type, and the younger women have fiery husbands; I barely see any girl students.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

I barely saw the road in front of me.

The New Yorker

I barely saw the room, so it's definitely not there.

Independent

All the years I was young, the center of life's drama, I barely saw these people.

The New York Times

I'd taken breaks during the day, to drink water and to visit the loo, but I barely saw any of the things or the people around me.

The Guardian - Books

I was deep in the dugout, so I barely saw a thing from that angle, but I watched the replay from the locker room ad nauseam.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "i barely see" when you want to express that something is difficult to see or rarely encountered. For instance, "I barely see the stars in the city due to the light pollution."

Common error

Avoid using "i barely see" when you intend to convey complete blindness or inability to see at all. The phrase suggests a limited or infrequent visual experience, not a total absence of sight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i barely see" functions as a statement of limited perception. It indicates that the speaker has difficulty seeing something or does not see it often. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct usage, and the examples highlight its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Academia

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "i barely see" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express limited visual perception or infrequent observation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and versatility. While the phrase is particularly common in News & Media, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with its intended meaning of limited or infrequent sight, rather than complete blindness. Consider alternatives like "i scarcely perceive" or "i hardly notice" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i scarcely perceive

Replaces "barely see" with "scarcely perceive", emphasizing the difficulty in noticing something.

i almost never see

Changes "barely see" to "almost never see", focusing on the near absence of seeing something.

i seldom observe

Substitutes "barely see" with "seldom observe", indicating infrequent observation.

i only just make out

Indicates difficulty in discerning or perceiving something.

i infrequently view

Replaces "barely see" with "infrequently view", highlighting the rare occurrence of viewing something.

i hardly notice

Changes "barely see" to "hardly notice", focusing on the lack of awareness or attention.

i rarely glimpse

Replaces "barely see" with "rarely glimpse", suggesting a fleeting or brief view.

i catch sight of infrequently

Rephrases "i barely see" to emphasize the rareness of catching sight of something.

it's uncommon for me to see

Emphasizes the infrequency of the speaker seeing something.

i occasionally espy

Substitutes "barely see" with "occasionally espy", indicating sporadic or infrequent sightings.

FAQs

How can I use "i barely see" in a sentence?

You can use "i barely see" to describe something that is difficult to perceive or rarely observed. For example, "I barely see my neighbors because our schedules are so different."

What are some alternatives to "i barely see"?

Alternatives include "i scarcely perceive", "i hardly notice", or "i rarely glimpse", depending on the context.

Is "i barely saw" the past tense of "i barely see"?

Yes, "i barely saw" is the past tense. For example, "I barely saw him at the party last night."

What's the difference between "i barely see" and "i can barely see"?

While similar, "i can barely see" emphasizes the ability to see, whereas "i barely see" highlights the frequency or likelihood of seeing something. The first refers to the capability, while the second emphasizes the occurrence.