just barely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just barely" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to make a distinction between two or more options when the difference between them is very slight. For example, "He was just barely able to make it to the train on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Just barely.

The New York Times - Sports

Reason prevailed, just barely.

The New York Times

It fits, just barely.

The New Yorker

Just barely the necessities".

The New York Times

worked, but just barely.

The New York Times

But just barely".

The New York Times

The butcher apologized — just barely.

The New Yorker

"And that's just barely enough".

The New York Times

The answer is, just barely.

The New York Times - Arts

And the agency is just barely surviving.

Princeton University

It's a start, just barely.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just barely" to emphasize the narrowness of a margin or the minimal effort required to achieve a result. It adds a touch of drama or precariousness to the situation.

Common error

While "just barely" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal contexts. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "narrowly" or "scarcely" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just barely" primarily functions as an adverbial modifier, intensifying the meaning of another adverb or verb by indicating a minimal degree or margin. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It suggests that something was achieved or avoided by the narrowest of measures, almost not happening at all.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "just barely" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to express that something was achieved or avoided by a very narrow margin. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, but writers should consider more formal alternatives like "scarcely" or "narrowly" in academic or professional settings. The phrase effectively emphasizes the precariousness of a situation and adds a touch of drama. Be mindful of overuse, and leverage the provided alternatives to enhance your writing's precision and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

only just

Replaces "barely" with "just", emphasizing the closeness of the margin.

by the skin of one's teeth

Another idiomatic expression indicating a very close escape or success.

by a hair's breadth

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey a near miss or close call.

scarcely

Offers a more formal synonym for "barely", indicating a minimal amount.

narrowly

Focuses on the small margin by which something was achieved or avoided.

hardly

Similar to "scarcely", suggesting that something almost didn't happen or exist.

almost not

Expresses the idea that something nearly failed to occur.

with little margin

Highlights the lack of leeway or room for error.

close to not

Emphasizes the proximity to a negative outcome.

minimally

Indicates that something was done to the smallest possible degree.

FAQs

How can I use "just barely" in a sentence?

Use "just barely" to indicate that something was achieved by a very small margin, for example: "He "just barely" made it to the meeting on time" or "The team "just barely" won the game".

What are some alternatives to saying "just barely"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "scarcely", "narrowly", or "only just" as alternatives to "just barely".

Is it correct to say "just barely" in formal writing?

Yes, "just barely" is grammatically correct, but it might be more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. For formal writing, consider using synonyms like "scarcely" or "hardly".

What's the difference between "just barely" and "almost"?

"Just barely" implies that something was achieved with minimal effort or success, while "almost" suggests that something nearly happened but didn't. For example, "He "just barely" passed the test" means he passed with a low score, whereas "He almost passed the test" means he didn't pass.