scarcely a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely a" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that something is very rare or almost nonexistent. Example: "There was scarcely a moment of silence during the concert." Alternative expressions include "hardly a" and "barely a."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Inflation is scarcely a worry.

The Economist

Scarcely a nick.

The New York Times - Magazine

Scarcely a day passed without a riot.

The New Yorker

But scarcely a gallery was unscathed.

The New York Times - Arts

Yet he is scarcely a household name.

Independent

That is scarcely a life.

The Guardian - Books

That's scarcely a put-down.

The New York Times

The bad news was scarcely a surprise.

The New York Times

Scarcely a building had escaped damage.

The Guardian

Scarcely a major score escaped revision.

The New York Times - Arts

Scarcely a family was not torn apart.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair it with singular countable nouns like "day", "word", "building" or "person" for maximum impact.

Common error

Do not pair "scarcely a" with negative verbs. For example, avoid saying "there wasn't scarcely a cloud in the sky". Instead, use a positive verb: "there was scarcely a cloud in the sky". Scarcely already carries a negative meaning, so adding another negative creates a redundant and grammatically incorrect structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely a" functions as a complex quantifier composed of the negative adverb "scarcely" and the indefinite article "a". It serves to limit the following singular countable noun, expressing a degree of scarcity that is almost absolute. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it frequently initiates a sentence or acts as a subject complement to emphasize the near-total absence of an object or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Encyclopedias

10%

Academic

5%

Less common in

Social Media

2%

Wiki

2%

Technical Manuals

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "scarcely a" is a highly effective linguistic tool for expressing near-total absence with a touch of elegance. According to Ludwig AI and the provided real-world data, the phrase is a hallmark of high-quality English prose, appearing frequently in top-tier news outlets and literary works. It is grammatically sound and serves to emphasize rarity more strongly than basic synonyms. Writers should be careful to avoid double negatives when using it and should primarily pair it with singular countable nouns to achieve the desired rhetorical effect. Whether describing a deserted landscape or a rare occurrence, "scarcely a" remains a versatile and sophisticated choice for any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly a

Offers a nearly identical level of emphasis and is the most common synonym.

barely a

Focuses slightly more on the narrow margin of existence rather than rarity.

almost no

Replaces the adverbial structure with a direct quantifier for simpler clarity.

virtually no

Emphasizes the practical absence of something, common in technical or business contexts.

not even one

Stronger emphasis on the singular nature of the absence.

practically no

Less formal alternative to virtually no.

scarcely any

Used when referring to plural or uncountable nouns instead of a singular countable one.

only a single

Reframes the absence as a very limited presence.

just one

A more conversational and less dramatic way to state the limitation.

next to no

An idiomatic expression highlighting the proximity to zero.

FAQs

How do I use "scarcely a" in a sentence?

You use it to show that something is almost non-existent. For example, "There was "scarcely a" soul in the streets." This means the streets were almost empty. You can find similar examples on Ludwig by searching for "scarcely a moment" or "scarcely a sound".

What is the difference between "scarcely a" and "hardly a"?

In most contexts, they are interchangeable. Both indicate that something is very rare. However, "scarcely a" can feel slightly more formal or literary. If you want a more common everyday phrase, you might use "hardly a".

Is "scarcely a" considered formal?

Yes, it is often found in high-quality journalism and literature. It is considered a neutral to formal expression. For informal speech, you might prefer "almost no" or "barely any".

Can I say "scarcely any" instead of "scarcely a"?

It depends on the noun that follows. Use "scarcely any" for plural nouns (e.g., "scarcely any people") or uncountable nouns (e.g., "scarcely any water"). Use "scarcely a" specifically for singular countable nouns like "day" or "building".