is barely below

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is barely below" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is just slightly lower than a certain point or threshold. Example: "The temperature today is barely below freezing, making it a chilly day outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

For example, since 1990, the SPX has spent 56% of Septembers in the red for an average "September return" that is barely below zero.

Forbes

With that, regional discord that is barely below the surface is leaping out.

The New York Times

Adjust both the reed and ligature so the reed is barely below tip of mouthpiece.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A devout Catholic from the old Queens, his conservative stripes are barely below the surface.

The New York Times

But the bitterness engendered by the battle of the past few months was barely below the surface.

The New York Times

Adjusted for inflation, local phone rates in most of the country are barely below where they were in 1984, when the original American Telephone and Telegraph Company was broken up.

The New York Times

Schools were identified for intervention because of test scores alone, so teachers directed disproportionate efforts to a few students whose scores were barely below passing.

The New York Times

But the US president-elect, Barack Obama, expects US emissions to be barely below 1990 levels by then, a target that is less than needed but which could prove stretching to achieve.

The Guardian

This phenomenon occurs in the neighbourhoods of those candidate keypoints that were discarded because they are barely below the SIFT thresholds.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

At 5.8percentt, however, it's barely below the highest rate reached in connection with the 2001 recession.

Huffington Post

We are exploring modifications of the assay format in order to produce a more linear dose-response curve with clinical sera samples, which if found, would facilitate assay standardization and might increase sensitivity (note that 1 2 of the colon cancer responses to one of the antigens tested, β-catenin-Δ1, are barely below the cut-off value used to judge statistical significance).

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "is barely below", ensure that the context clearly establishes the reference point or threshold being discussed. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "is barely below" when you actually mean "is significantly below". "Barely" indicates a small margin, so ensure your word choice accurately reflects the degree of difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is barely below" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating the proximity of a value to a lower limit. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is barely below" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something that is just slightly less than a given value or level. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability. It serves to indicate proximity to a lower limit, suitable for various contexts including news reporting, scientific writing, and general informative content. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines the reference point to prevent ambiguity, and avoid using it when you intend to express a significant difference. Alternatives like "is just under" or "is slightly below" can be used to achieve similar effects. Top sources include The New York Times, Forbes, and The Guardian, reinforcing the phrase's reliability and widespread acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is just under

Replaces "barely" with "just", emphasizing the small difference.

is slightly below

A straightforward and common alternative using "slightly".

is marginally less than

Substitutes "barely below" with a more formal expression of a small difference.

is negligibly lower than

Emphasizes that the difference is so small it's almost insignificant.

is only a fraction under

Highlights that the value is only slightly less than another.

is almost at

Focuses on the proximity to a level rather than the difference.

is scarcely beneath

Uses "scarcely" as a more literary synonym for "barely".

is virtually at

Focuses on the near equivalence of the compared values.

is scarcely under

Emphasizes how little it differs from the lower threshold.

is a tad under

Uses "tad" to indicate a very small amount.

FAQs

How can I use "is barely below" in a sentence?

You can use "is barely below" to indicate that something is only slightly less than a certain value or threshold. For example, "The water level is barely below the flood stage".

What can I say instead of "is barely below"?

You can use alternatives like "is just under", "is slightly below", or "is marginally less than" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is barely below" or "is just below"?

Both "is barely below" and "is just below" are correct and have similar meanings. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, with "barely" perhaps emphasizing the narrowness of the margin.

What's the difference between "is barely below" and "is significantly below"?

"Is barely below" indicates a small difference, while "is significantly below" suggests a large difference. Using the correct phrase ensures you accurately represent the degree to which something is lower than a reference point.