it barely happens

USAGE SUMMARY

"it barely happens" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something rarely, almost never, or seldom occurs. For example, "It barely happens that I have enough free time to go to the movies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In any case, the notion of "altruistic" surrogacy – apart from being a red herring, since it barely happens in reality – has a very strange ideological underpinning.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

For all the world, it looks like it's barely happened at all.

Vice

It's barely happened in this campaign cycle.

The New York Times

It doesn't help that the one confrontation we want -- Natalie or someone confronting Ingrid once and for all -- barely happens and then is covered up with all-is-forgiven hugs at the end.

Huffington Post

It seems like Thanksgiving barely happened and we were already getting jammed with Christmas music, commercials, ads, everything.

Huffington Post

But to look at the media coverage, it's as though all that barely happened, as the Vermont senator was simply superseded by a rush of big endorsements to Hillary Clinton.

Huffington Post

It's the best thing that has barely happened to me.

Vice

The fact that this kind of discussion is barely happening breaks my heart, just as it breaks my heart that we can't make a lousy turkey burger safe.

The New York Times

The inventory buildup barely happened.

The New York Times

What it left behind was an impressive array of artists, a version of "alternative" that seems less tenable by the month, and Mr. Rose's atmospheric time capsule of a book, which tells an exciting art-world story, of a kind that should be happening in one form or another in New York all the time, and is barely happening at all.

The New York Times

1.37am BST Kings 0-0 Rangers, 8 59, first period Now Pearson with a shot from above the far circle, but it's right into the safe pads of Henrik Lundvist as he holds on and stops play, something that has barely happened in the first period.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it barely happens", ensure the context clearly establishes what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "it barely happens" when you actually mean something happens occasionally. "Barely" implies a very low frequency, close to never.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it barely happens" functions as a statement indicating that a particular event or situation occurs with very low frequency. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it barely happens" is a grammatically sound way to express that something occurs very infrequently. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for written English and commonly found in news and media sources. While grammatically correct, it's important to use it accurately to reflect a truly rare occurrence, differentiating it from events that simply happen "rarely" or "seldom". Alternatives include phrases like "it scarcely occurs" or "it hardly ever occurs" to emphasize the infrequency with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it scarcely occurs

Replaces "barely" with "scarcely", implying a slightly lower frequency.

it hardly ever occurs

Uses "hardly ever" for a stronger emphasis on infrequency.

it seldom happens

Employs "seldom" to denote rarity or infrequency.

it rarely occurs

Utilizes "rarely" to indicate infrequent occurrence.

it infrequently happens

Replaces "barely" with "infrequently", offering a more formal tone.

it practically never happens

Emphasizes the extreme infrequency with "practically never".

it almost never happens

Uses "almost never" to convey a near-zero chance of occurrence.

it hardly happens at all

Adds "at all" for further emphasis on the rarity.

it scarcely ever happens

Combines "scarcely" and "ever" for a more nuanced expression of infrequency.

it barely transpires

Replaces "happens" with "transpires", giving a more formal and somewhat archaic feel.

FAQs

How can I use "it barely happens" in a sentence?

Use "it barely happens" to express that something almost never occurs. For instance, "It barely happens that I finish work on time."

What's the difference between "it barely happens" and "it rarely happens"?

"It rarely happens" indicates something infrequent, while "it barely happens" suggests an even lower frequency, close to never.

What can I say instead of "it barely happens"?

Alternatives include "it scarcely occurs", "it hardly ever occurs", or "it seldom happens", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "it barely happens" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it barely happens" is grammatically correct. However, ensure that its use aligns with the intended meaning of something occurring very infrequently.