is hardly that

USAGE SUMMARY

"is hardly that" is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express doubt or disagreement with a statement or idea. Example: "The new policy is hardly fair to employees who have been with the company for years." In this sentence, "is hardly fair" means the speaker does not believe the policy is fair.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But the reality is hardly that simple.

The New York Times - Sports

We all know that the subway is hardly that neat.

The New York Times

The acting is good enough on its own and the material is hardly that complex.

The Guardian - Film

Do not get me wrong, introducing children to skiing or snowboarding is hardly that simple.

The New York Times - Sports

It soon emerges that he is hardly that, especially once his girlfriend, Leonie (Aisling Loftus), arrives for an amorous weekend.

The New York Times

As a revelation, however, it is hardly that sensational, given that it, too, has already appeared in the Paget report.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

New York's event was hardly that dramatic.

The New York Times

But outside, there was hardly that unanimity of view.

The New York Times

"It's hardly that direct".

Forbes

For Kawakubo, these items of clothing are hardly that simple.

Huffington Post

It's hardly that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is hardly that" to politely disagree with a previous statement or to qualify a description without being overly confrontational. For example, "Claiming this approach guarantees success is hardly that accurate."

Common error

Avoid using "is hardly that" when a stronger negation is more appropriate. Using "is hardly that" when "is definitely not" is more fitting can dilute the intended message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is hardly that" functions as a qualifier or a mild negation. It suggests that something does not fully meet a certain description or expectation. As Ludwig AI explains, it expresses doubt or disagreement, though softly. For example, 'The situation is hardly that simple'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

21%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Unknown/unmatched sources

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is hardly that" serves as a nuanced way to express disagreement or qualification. It's a common phrase, as shown by Ludwig's examples, which are primarily drawn from news and media sources. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used to express doubt or disagreement, which it does in a polite and understated way. While grammatically correct and widely understood, ensure you're using it to convey the appropriate level of negation—avoiding it when a stronger, more direct statement is needed. Alternatives such as "is scarcely that" or "is not really that" offer similar, but slightly different, shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is scarcely that

Emphasizes the small degree to which something is true.

is barely that

Highlights that something only just qualifies as being true.

is just that

Indicates something only meets the requirement

is not really that

Softens the negation, implying a lesser degree of disagreement.

is not quite that

Suggests something falls slightly short of a particular description.

is not exactly that

Specifies the description is not accurate or correct.

is far from that

Emphasizes a significant difference from what is being described.

is not at all that

Indicates complete disagreement or negation.

doesn't quite measure up

Highlights inadequacy and falling short of a standard.

falls short of being that

Emphasizes the failure to achieve a certain status or description.

FAQs

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

Use "is hardly that" to express that something is not quite as described or expected. For example, "The situation is hardly that dire, there's still time to improve things."

What does "is hardly that" imply?

"Is hardly that" implies a degree of understatement or polite disagreement, suggesting that something is not as extreme or significant as previously stated.

What can I say instead of "is hardly that"?

You can use alternatives like "is scarcely that", "is barely that", or "is not really that" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "is hardly that" and "is not that"?

"Is hardly that" suggests a smaller degree of difference or disagreement compared to "is not that", which is a more direct negation.