it barely works

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "it barely works" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something is not working well, or only barely functioning. For example: "Ive been using this laptop for months now, and it barely works."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Although the argument from design is a nonscientific belief that appeals to many people, biologists have long known of countless examples of odd "it barely works" structures that do not appear to reflect an omnipotent, benevolent god or, for that matter, an overly intelligent designer.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

"The code is sloppy and it barely works and it gives me a headache when I use it," he said.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It barely worked in Manhattan for a number of years," he said.

The New York Times

Bueno de Mesquita decided to use his first version of the software (which was, as he puts it, "barely working") and his own knowledge of India to determine the power players and each of their numbers.

The New York Times - Magazine

[Pause for laughter.] OK, OK, it had more than just a few problems -- it barely worked.

Huffington Post

We had an Apple computer too, but the screen was black and green and it barely worked, so that doesn't count.

Vice

In contrast to the protocol that we describe here, which we never found to fail, the Dolphin & Hope protocol has very variable efficiency, that is, in our hands, it sometimes worked well, other times it barely worked or did not work at all (see Supplement Table S1 for a comparison).

Plosone

"Some days I felt like it was making me so tired I was going to pass out, and other times it felt like it was barely working at all".

Vice

If you wash it off before 30 minutes, it'll barely work.

Huffington Post

The judge has personally instituted some kind of system for indexing, but it's barely working, as he now concedes.

Vice

The enzyme barely works on the pCDKS substrate at early time points.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it barely works", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. Clarity is key, especially in technical or descriptive writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it barely works" when the subject is completely non-functional. This phrase implies some level of operation, however minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it barely works" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that something is operational but with significant limitations. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where the phrase describes a minimal level of functionality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it barely works" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe something functioning at a minimal level. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase appears most frequently in news and media and scientific contexts. While the phrase is suitable for different registers, it maintains a neutral tone. If you need alternatives, consider phrases like "it almost works" or "it hardly works" to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it almost works

Emphasizes the nearness of achieving functionality, suggesting it's close to working properly.

it hardly works

Indicates a significant deficiency in functionality, implying it's difficult to get it to work.

it seldom works

Focuses on the infrequency of successful operation, highlighting its unreliability.

it rarely works

Similar to 'seldom works', stressing the uncommon occurrence of proper function.

it only works sometimes

Highlights the intermittent nature of its functionality, stressing the lack of consistency.

it is barely functional

Shifts the focus to the state of being functional, emphasizing the minimal level achieved.

it is practically non-functional

Highlights the severe deficiency in functionality, implying it's unusable.

it's on its last legs

Suggests that the item is nearing the end of its useful life and barely operational.

it's hanging by a thread

Implies a precarious state of operation, suggesting imminent failure.

it's limping along

Conveys a sense of struggling to function, suggesting slow and impaired operation.

FAQs

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

You can use "it barely works" to describe something that is functioning at a minimal level. For instance, "The old computer is slow, and "it barely works" anymore."

What are some alternatives to saying "it barely works"?

Alternatives include phrases like "it almost works", "it hardly works", or "it rarely works". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "it barely works"?

Yes, "it barely works" is grammatically correct. The structure follows standard English syntax, with "it" as the subject, "barely" as an adverb modifying the verb "works".

What's the difference between "it barely works" and "it doesn't work"?

"It barely works" implies that something is functioning, but with significant limitations or unreliably. "It doesn't work" means it is completely non-functional. The former suggests a minimal level of operation, while the latter indicates a total lack of functionality.