is barely needed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is barely needed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not essential or only required to a minimal extent. Example: "In this case, the additional information is barely needed to understand the main point of the argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Aaron Kubey, who is also the company's artistic director, is particularly good as Stuart, Prudence's decidedly unethical therapist; his signing is so expressive that a translation is barely needed.

The New York Times

Sadly, press commentary is barely needed to highlight the prejudice lurking in Trump's language -- just slap some of the candidate's more incendiary quotes on a blank page and let them speak for themselves.

Huffington Post

How can such an aggressive tumor arise in the brain, a carefully orchestrated organ, where cellular proliferation is barely needed to maintain function?

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The starter's request, albeit with the right intentions, was barely needed.

The Guardian - Sport

Most of the light comes from overhead sources, but these are barely needed during the day as the salas have sliding glass doors that can be fully opened if the weather allows.

The New York Times

There is barely anything you need to run a household or get through daily chores that doesn't require a 10-page manual, usually written in tech speak.

The New York Times

If it is barely affected, you need a stronger floor stripping solution.

WikiHow

The detergent and vinegar are just barely needed to clean off unsightly stains that may have accumulated on your shades.

WikiHow

Spain is barely growing and it too needs to tackle a budget deficit likely to be around 9% of GDP this year.

The Economist

But it is barely four degrees, and we need to keep moving, so we sign up for a woodworking course and carve a spatula.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The [current] 3% [growth] is barely the start of what is needed to make up what has been lost," says Angel Talavera of consultancy Oxford Economics.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is barely needed" when you want to downplay the necessity of something, suggesting it's helpful but not crucial. For example, "The instruction manual is barely needed for assembling this simple device."

Common error

Avoid using "is barely needed" when something is completely unnecessary. The phrase implies a slight need, so use stronger language like "is entirely unnecessary" if that's the case.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is barely needed" functions as a qualifier, indicating that something has a minimal level of necessity. It modifies a noun or a clause, suggesting that while not entirely unnecessary, it's close to being so. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is barely needed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate something is almost unnecessary or only minimally required. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. As evidenced by the various examples, this phrase appears across multiple contexts, including news, science, and general knowledge domains. While the phrase is suitable for many situations, be mindful of its specific nuance; it implies a slight need rather than complete superfluity. For scenarios demanding greater emphasis, consider alternative phrases like "is hardly necessary" or "is minimally required". Ultimately, choosing the best phrase depends on the specific context and the intended degree of necessity you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is minimally required

Focuses on the minimal amount needed.

is almost unneeded

Highlights that something is close to not being needed at all.

is scarcely required

Emphasizes the minimal level of requirement.

is only marginally needed

Stresses the small degree of necessity.

is hardly necessary

Indicates a stronger degree of unnecessity compared to the original phrase.

is virtually unnecessary

Suggests that something is so close to being unnecessary that it practically is.

is just about dispensable

Implies that something could easily be done without.

is essentially optional

Highlights that something is not compulsory or essential.

is practically superfluous

Suggests the phrase is extra to requirements.

is nearly non-essential

Highlights a higher degree of unnecessity.

FAQs

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

You can use "is barely needed" to indicate that something is almost unnecessary or only required to a minimal extent. For example, "The translation "is barely needed" because the signing is very expressive."

What are some alternatives to "is barely needed"?

Some alternatives include "is hardly necessary", "is scarcely required", or "is minimally required", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is barely needed"?

It's appropriate when something is not essential but may still offer some minor benefit or contribution. If something has zero necessity, use a stronger phrase like "is completely unnecessary".

Is "is barely needed" formal or informal?

The phrase "is barely needed" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal writing might favor alternatives like "is minimally required".