is scarcely present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is scarcely present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is barely noticeable or exists in very small amounts. Example: "In the crowded room, his enthusiasm is scarcely present, overshadowed by the loud conversations around him."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, E.C. 3.1.1.8) is scarcely present at these developmental stages as shown by the scarce inhibition of AcTChI cleavage exerted by iso-OMPA in controls but seems to increase its activity while AChE activity is decreasing.

BioMed Research International

This subtext, though, is scarcely present in the play because Weigh is adapting a text set three decades earlier, in another culture.

The Guardian

The vinylester matrix resists better to such degradation as fibre matrix debonding occurs in less extent, and matrix microcracking is scarcely present.

Composite Structures

Type VIII collagen, a short chain collagen, is scarcely present in normal arteries, but is dramatically upregulated in atherosclerosis and after other types of vascular injury.

Matrix Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It is not so much that its message -- "vote for Hillary; Trump is deeply flawed" -- is incorrect, although it is scarcely presented in a manner that is precise, nuanced or in any way illuminating.

Huffington Post

But Tchaikovsky, who provided the novel's most famous musical setting in his soaring 1879 opera "Eugene Onegin," was scarcely present.

The New York Times - Arts

Women were a rare species that existed somewhere across Broadway, were scarcely present in our classes and seemed to conveniently disappear on weekends and at the "mixers" aimed at underclassmen.

Columbia University

Egyptians are scarcely present in the story, though the new and pressing Egyptian nationalism features in the background, including the government's efforts to gain control over archaeological finds.

The Guardian - Books

As a result of carrying out aquathermolysis in the supercritical water environment and in the presence of initiating additives, the high-molecular weight components of the initial crude oil were degraded with the formation of light distillate fractions, which were scarcely present in the initial crude oil.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

Cobalt and cadmium were scarcely present in soil.

Environmental Sciences Europe

For comparison, we examined the presence, in the nuclear shield, of enzymes that do not have a specific "protective role", such as L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), L-alanine amino transferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK); these proteins are scarcely present in the shield and display very much lower specific activities than in the cytosol (Figure 4B).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is scarcely present" to subtly indicate a minimal or near-absent presence of something without completely denying its existence. This can add nuance to your writing, especially when discussing data or observations.

Common error

Avoid using "is scarcely present" when you mean something is completely absent. This phrase implies a minimal presence, not a total absence. If something is entirely missing, use stronger phrasing like "is absent" or "is nonexistent."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is scarcely present" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, typically modifying a noun by indicating its degree of presence or existence. As Ludwig AI explains, it communicates that something is present to a minimal extent, almost negligible. Examples from Ludwig show its usage in academic papers and news articles.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is scarcely present" is a grammatically correct way to indicate that something exists only in a minimal amount. While it's not a very common phrase, according to Ludwig it's appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific and academic contexts. When writing, be mindful of overstating absence and use more definitive language if complete absence is what you're trying to convey. Ludwig's examples highlight its use in describing data and observations where precision is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is barely there

Emphasizes minimal presence, suggesting something is almost nonexistent.

is hardly present

Indicates a lack of presence, but not as extreme as being "barely there".

is almost absent

Highlights the near absence of something.

is virtually nonexistent

Strongly asserts the lack of existence or presence.

is thinly distributed

Suggests that something exists but is spread out very sparsely.

is rarely found

Focuses on the infrequency of something's occurrence or presence.

is sparsely available

Highlights the limited availability of something.

is few and far between

Indicates that instances of something are infrequent and widely separated.

is conspicuously absent

Emphasizes the noticeable lack of something.

is in short supply

Indicates a limited quantity or availability of something.

FAQs

How can I use "is scarcely present" in a sentence?

You can use "is scarcely present" to indicate something is barely noticeable or exists in very small amounts. For example, "Evidence of their involvement "is scarcely present" in the documents".

What's a good alternative to "is scarcely present"?

Alternatives include "is barely there", "is hardly present", or "is almost absent", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "is scarcely present" or "is barely there"?

"Is scarcely present" tends to be more formal than "is barely there". Use "is scarcely present" in academic or professional writing, while "is barely there" is suitable for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "is scarcely present" and "is conspicuously absent"?

"Is scarcely present" indicates a minimal presence, while "is conspicuously absent" emphasizes that the absence is noticeable and potentially significant.