scant success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scant success" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there is very little success or achievement in a particular endeavor. Example: "Despite their efforts, the team achieved scant success in their fundraising campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Thus far, attempts to figure out exactly what a successful digital-era Hollywood venture will look like have been met with scant success.

Huffington Post

With little to offer, she meets with scant success.

The New York Times

After scant success he is making his return.

The Guardian - Sport

Various governments at the centre, in Khartoum, have tried with scant success to control the periphery.

The Economist

RATIONALISING Britain's police forces is something that most home secretaries try to do, with scant success.

The Economist

Alexander met with scant success until 1963, when she acted as understudy in the popular play A Thousand Clowns.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

He rejoins the Devils after serving eight seasons as the Minnesota Wild's first coach, leading that team to instant respectability but scant playoff success.

The New York Times

Other rich teams that have spent heavily on players since 1996, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, have had scant postseason success.

Forbes

A veteran coach who had scant NFL success in the 1990s with the Jets and Patriots, Carroll was able to burst into the NFL high-rent district after creating a juggernaut at the University of Southern California, where he went 97-19 with a pair of national championships from 2001 to 2009.

Forbes

That's scant reward for success.

The New York Times

Without that change, there is scant hope of success.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scant success" to describe situations where efforts have yielded very little positive outcome, emphasizing the lack of significant achievement.

Common error

Avoid using "scant success" when there's been complete failure. The phrase implies some level of achievement, however small. If there was no success at all, use "no success" or "complete failure" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scant success" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb. It describes the degree of achievement obtained in a particular endeavor. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scant success" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe limited or minimal achievement. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears commonly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing, indicating a neutral to slightly formal register. For alternative expressions, consider "limited success" or "minimal success" to convey a similar meaning. When using "scant success", ensure that some level of success, however small, was indeed achieved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

modest success

Indicates a limited degree of achievement, suggesting some positive results but not substantial ones.

limited achievement

Focuses on the restricted scope or extent of accomplishment.

minimal progress

Emphasizes the small amount of forward movement or advancement made.

slight success

Highlights the small degree of positive outcome or accomplishment.

meager results

Stresses the insufficiency or inadequacy of the outcomes achieved.

restricted progress

Highlights limits of the progress and improvements.

inadequate accomplishment

Emphasizes the deficiency or insufficiency of the achievement.

rare triumph

Emphasizes the infrequency and exceptionality of the success.

patchy success

Highlights the unevenness or inconsistency of the success, with some areas doing better than others.

isolated achievement

Emphasizes that the achievement is singular and not part of a larger pattern of success.

FAQs

How can I use "scant success" in a sentence?

You can use "scant success" to describe situations where there was very little success or achievement. For example, "Despite their hard work, the project met with "scant success"."

What are some alternatives to "scant success"?

Alternatives include "limited success", "minimal success", or "modest success" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "little success" instead of "scant success"?

Yes, "little success" is a valid alternative. While both phrases convey a lack of substantial achievement, "scant success" might sound more formal or literary. The difference between "little success" and "scant success" is minimal.

What's the difference between "scant success" and "abundant success"?

"Scant success" indicates a small amount of success, while "abundant success" refers to a large or plentiful amount of success. They are antonyms.