is hardly legible

USAGE SUMMARY

"is hardly legible" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that's not easy to read, such as handwriting, a faded sign, or a printed document that's difficult to make out. For example, "The instructions on the package were so faded, the text is hardly legible."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The answer is rooted in the engineering principles of design and optimization, a language that is hardly legible to chemists.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I'm sure someone thought it was really artsy and cool, but it was hardly legible in places.

Los Angeles Times

This is hardly surprising.

Duke University

His handwriting was barely legible and his English was comic.

The New Yorker

The words are barely legible without a magnifying glass.

The New Yorker

He signed the autograph, but it was barely legible, and he got the paper all wet.

The New Yorker

The referral letters from the community were legible in 43.4% (70/161), 46.5% (75/161) were barely legible and 10% (16/161) illegible.

BMC Family Practice

You are hardly graceful.

Cornell University

Sucrose was hardly hydrolyzed.

Chemistry Central Journal

The lawsuit is homespun and handwritten, hardly legible, much less drafted in the language of lawyers.

Forbes

And hardly legible through the murk was the autograph of Jack Hobbs, black and indented, as if The Master had carved his name with a penknife on the lid of an old school desk.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing documents or handwriting, use "is hardly legible" to politely indicate that they are difficult to read without directly criticizing the writer or the quality of the document. This provides a constructive way to suggest improvement or clarification.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "legible" (readable) with "eligible" (qualified). "The handwriting is hardly legible" means it's difficult to read, while "The applicant is hardly eligible" means they don't meet the requirements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is hardly legible" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its degree of readability. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

23%

Science

21%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is hardly legible" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something difficult to read. Analysis of example sentences from sources like The New York Times and The Guardian shows its versatility across various domains, including news, science, academia and wiki contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English. While not strictly formal, its register skews towards neutral and scientific, indicating its appropriateness for objective assessments of readability. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure it's not confused with "eligible". Alternatives like "is barely readable" offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings. Thus, "is hardly legible" remains a valuable and precise tool in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is barely readable

Indicates a slight decrease in readability compared to "is hardly legible".

is almost unreadable

Emphasizes the difficulty in reading, suggesting it's close to impossible.

is practically illegible

Similar to 'almost unreadable', but stresses the near impossibility of reading

is difficult to decipher

Focuses on the effort required to understand the text.

is just about legible

Highlights that it is readable but difficult

is faintly visible

Shifts the focus to visibility rather than legibility, implying it's difficult to see.

is scarcely visible

Similar to 'faintly visible', emphasizing the minimal visibility.

is somewhat unclear

Indicates a lack of clarity, which affects the ability to read and understand.

is partially obscured

Suggests that something is blocking the view or readability of the text.

is poorly written

Highlights the quality of the writing itself, which contributes to the difficulty in reading.

FAQs

How can I use "is hardly legible" in a sentence?

You can use "is hardly legible" to describe text that is difficult to read. For example, "The inscription on the old gravestone "is hardly legible" due to weathering".

What's the difference between "is hardly legible" and "is illegible"?

"Is hardly legible" implies that something is difficult to read but potentially decipherable, whereas "is illegible" means it cannot be read at all.

What are some alternatives to saying "is hardly legible"?

Some alternatives include "is barely readable", "is difficult to decipher", or "is faintly visible" depending on the specific context.

In what situations would I use the phrase "is hardly legible"?

You would use "is hardly legible" when you want to convey that something is readable only with significant effort or is nearly unreadable, such as describing old documents, poor handwriting, or faded prints.