is barely impossible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is barely impossible" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is a contradictory expression, as "barely" suggests something is possible, while "impossible" indicates it cannot happen. Example: "The task is barely impossible, but with enough effort, we might achieve it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Considering the current state of affairs, it is barely impossible to reduce emissions without relying on CO2 capture and sequestration technologies.

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

It is just impossible".

The New York Times

This is just impossible.

WikiHow

Meredith Whitney of Oppenheimer has calculated that banks may have to write off $10.1 billion of the paper they insured with ACA.Because the CDS market is barely regulated, it is impossible to know how much of this monoline "counterparty risk" banks are exposed to.

The Economist

The support of many of Hong Kong's business community for the students - even if they admit they are "trying for the impossible" - is barely less astonishing, in a place famed for its money-minded pragmatism.

BBC

In Europe, labour reform appears all but impossible, but there is barely a peep of protest against even quite big tax rises.Why should one sort of reform be politically harder than the other?

The Economist

It is barely possible to get through if you follow it and it may be impossible if you don't".

Wikipedia

He is barely communicative.

The New York Times - Sports

The centromere is barely visible.

Nanoscale Research Letters

That is barely intelligible.

SEP

China is barely leveraged.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "is barely impossible" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "is almost impossible" or "is hardly possible" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Don't confuse "barely" with words like "almost" or "nearly". "Barely" implies a small chance of success, while "impossible" negates any possibility. Combining them creates a contradictory statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is barely impossible" is intended to function as a commentary on the feasibility of something, suggesting an action or outcome that is extremely difficult but, according to Ludwig AI, contradictory.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is barely impossible" is grammatically incorrect due to the conflicting nature of "barely" and "impossible", as highlighted by Ludwig AI. While the intent might be to express extreme difficulty, it's better to use alternatives like "is almost impossible" or "is hardly possible" for clarity and correctness. The usage of "is barely impossible" is rare, and typically found in informal contexts. Using the phrase in formal writing should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is almost impossible

Replaces "barely" with "almost", indicating a high degree of difficulty but not absolute impossibility.

is nearly impossible

Similar to "almost impossible", it softens the absolute nature of "impossible" while maintaining a strong sense of difficulty.

is hardly possible

Uses "hardly" to suggest a very low probability of success.

is remotely possible

Implies that the situation is so unlikely that it might as well be impossible.

is just not possible

Emphasizes the impossibility with a simple and direct statement.

is out of the question

Indicates that something is not worth considering because it is not achievable.

is a long shot

Describes the action as having very low chances of success.

is not feasible

Indicates that the action is impractical and cannot be conveniently achieved.

is beyond reach

Highlights that there's no way of achieving such action, even by trying.

is a pipe dream

Describes that the action is an unachievable fantasy.

FAQs

Why is the phrase "is barely impossible" considered incorrect?

The phrase "is barely impossible" is considered incorrect because the terms "barely" and "impossible" create a contradiction. "Barely" suggests a minimal possibility, while "impossible" indicates no possibility at all. This makes the phrase illogical.

What are some better alternatives to "is barely impossible"?

Instead of "is barely impossible", consider using alternatives like "is almost impossible", "is nearly impossible", or "is hardly possible" to convey the intended meaning.

In what contexts might someone mistakenly use the phrase "is barely impossible"?

Someone might mistakenly use "is barely impossible" when trying to emphasize how difficult something is, but inadvertently create a grammatically incorrect phrase. This often happens in informal speech or writing when the speaker/writer is not carefully considering the precise meaning of each word.

How does "is barely impossible" differ from "is remotely possible"?

"Is barely impossible" is a grammatically incorrect phrase because it combines contradictory ideas. On the other hand, "is remotely possible" is grammatically correct and means that something has a very slight chance of happening.