scarcely anyone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely anyone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that very few people are involved or affected by something. Example: "At the event, scarcely anyone showed up despite the extensive advertising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Worse, scarcely anyone seems to mind.

The Economist

But scarcely anyone is watching.

The New York Times

Scarcely anyone seemed indifferent to him.

Independent

Scarcely anyone is entirely let off the sceptical hook.

The Guardian

Before the 1789 revolution, scarcely anyone had access to it.

The Guardian - Arts

There is scarcely anyone else to run into.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

This is terribly nave, of course -- but in a way that scarcely flatters anyone now.

The New York Times - Books

"When I look at the death notices in the paper I scarcely see anyone of my own age".

The New York Times

Because while Sean is out among his siblings, peers, friends and some of our extended family, my husband and I have scarcely told anyone else.

The New York Times

"You can scarcely find anyone in opposition, except for the Communists, just like in Yeltsin's times," Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn recently told Der Spiegel.

The New Yorker

But before I came across Walshe's music, I'd scarcely heard anyone talk about post-internet music.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely anyone" to emphasize a surprisingly low number or near absence of people, often in situations where more might be expected.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely anyone" in very informal contexts; alternatives like "almost nobody" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely anyone" functions as a determiner phrase, modifying a noun implicitly. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a minimal quantity of individuals, expressing that the number of people is unexpectedly low.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Less common in

Science

0.2%

Encyclopedias

0.1%

Reference

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely anyone" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression, particularly in news and media contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates a surprisingly small number of people. Alternatives such as "hardly anyone" or "almost nobody" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. While generally neutral, it's best to avoid using "scarcely anyone" in very casual settings. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the context and whether a more informal alternative would be more suitable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly anyone

This alternative is a direct synonym, emphasizing the minimal number of people involved.

barely anyone

This phrase uses "barely" to convey the idea that the number of people is minimal and almost non-existent.

practically no one

This variant uses "practically" to emphasize that the number is close to zero.

virtually no one

This option emphasizes the lack of people using the word "virtually", implying near absence.

almost nobody

This phrase uses "nobody" instead of "anyone" to convey the scarcity, creating a slightly more informal tone.

next to no one

This emphasizes the near absence with 'next to', indicating a very small quantity.

very few people

This option is a more literal and descriptive way of expressing the same idea, focusing on the quantity of people.

hardly a person

Replaces 'anyone' with 'a person' to put emphasis on each individual being absent.

rarely anyone

This alternative suggests that it is uncommon for anyone to be present or involved.

scarcely a soul

This phrase uses a more figurative and emphatic language to highlight the lack of people.

FAQs

What does "scarcely anyone" mean?

The phrase "scarcely anyone" means almost no one or very few people. It emphasizes that the number of people involved is surprisingly small.

What can I say instead of "scarcely anyone"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly anyone", "almost nobody", or "very few people" depending on the context.

Is "scarcely anyone" formal or informal?

The phrase "scarcely anyone" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for news articles, reports, and general writing but may sound somewhat stiff in very casual conversations.

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

Use "scarcely anyone" to describe a situation where you expect more people to be present, involved, or interested. For example, "At the meeting, "scarcely anyone" voiced their concerns" suggests that very few people spoke up.