scarcely able

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely able" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is barely capable of doing something or has very limited ability to perform a task. Example: "After the long hike, I was scarcely able to keep my eyes open."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Scarcely able to control herself upon Tichon's return, Katya publicly confesses her adultery.

The New York Times - Arts

The baby's lungs would be like small blobs of liver, unable or scarcely able to inflate.

The Economist

Private markets are effectively closed, and Italy and Spain are scarcely able to afford bailouts.

The New York Times

Scarcely able to rouse himself, he stumbled across the room, vomiting as he went.

The Guardian - Books

"Grown men, hardened football-watchers, are scarcely able to turn their eyes to this".

The Guardian - Sport

Harry was left grieving and burdened, scarcely able to look after himself.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Since arriving on South Island I've scarcely been able to draw breath between the new vistas that I've met round every corner.

The Guardian - Travel

She'd been assured that the authorities would find the man and check the dog for rabies, but in her distressed state she'd scarcely been able to listen or to care.

The New Yorker

Since last year, oystermen have scarcely been able to scrape up several sacks of oysters a day from the bay, a far cry from the 40 they fill in the best of times.

The New York Times

Moreover, the UN's weapons inspection team in Damascus has scarcely been able to conduct a thorough investigation, let alone to draw up a measured indictment against those who should be held responsible.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even if their cameras can track the movements of every Serbian police truck, these unarmed planes will scarcely be able to adjudicate accurately when one side or the other stages a cunning provocation, let alone mete out the appropriate discipline.Other, horribly familiar, possibilities loom.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scarcely able", ensure the context clearly indicates the difficulty or limitation being experienced. It's effective for highlighting a struggle or a near-impossible situation.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely able" when the situation implies a complete inability. The phrase suggests some capacity, however limited, still exists. If there is no capacity, consider alternatives such as "unable" or "incapable".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely able" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a verb, indicating a limited capacity or difficulty in performing an action. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its role in describing situations where ability is significantly impaired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely able" is a versatile expression used to describe a limited ability or capacity to perform an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. Its primary function is to emphasize difficulty or a near-impossible situation. When writing, it's crucial to ensure the context aligns with the limited, but existent, ability implied by the phrase, avoiding overstatements of complete inability. While alternatives like "barely capable" or "hardly able" exist, "scarcely able" provides a nuanced way to express limitations with considerable impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly able

A direct synonym, indicating a near inability to do something.

barely capable

Emphasizes a minimal level of capability, similar to "scarcely able" but with a slightly different nuance.

almost unable

Highlights the proximity to a state of inability.

nearly incapable

Implies a state close to being completely unable.

marginally able

Indicates ability exists but is close to the limit of being non-existent.

just able

Highlights the fact that something was achieved, but with difficulty.

faintly able

Suggests a very weak or limited ability.

with difficulty able

Places more emphasis on the struggle or effort required.

laboriously able

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved in managing to do something.

minimally competent

Focuses on the minimum level of skill required.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely able" in a sentence?

"Scarcely able" is used to indicate that someone or something has a limited capacity or ability to do something. For example, "After running the marathon, she was scarcely able to walk".

What can I say instead of "scarcely able"?

You can use alternatives like "barely capable", "hardly able", or "almost unable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "scarcely able" or "scarcely capable"?

Both "scarcely able" and "scarcely capable" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Scarcely able" refers to a limited ability to do something, while "scarcely capable" refers to a limited capacity to develop skills or perform tasks.

What's the difference between "scarcely able" and "just able"?

"Scarcely able" emphasizes the difficulty in performing an action, while "just able" suggests that something was achieved, but with a minimal margin. For instance, "He was scarcely able to lift the box" implies significant effort, whereas "He was just able to catch the bus" implies narrowly succeeding.