scarcely different

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely different" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that two things are only slightly different from each other, often in a comparative context. Example: "The two proposals were scarcely different, leading the committee to question the need for a second review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Conditions in Maryland and Washington were scarcely different.

The New York Times

The stock market and real estate, in the Chinese view, are scarcely different from a casino.

The New Yorker

The low-life women are prostitutes, ballet dancers (scarcely different from prostitutes in those days) and artists' models.

The New York Times - Arts

This is scarcely different from what the Bush administration did after the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal, scapegoating only low-level military police officers.

The New York Times

Teen Vogue, despite fashion layouts that seem scarcely different from an adult magazine's, says it is aiming for the youngest teenagers, 12 to 16.

The New York Times - Style

The seaside town of Jupiter, Fla., has lots of immigrant day laborers, which makes it scarcely different from hundreds of towns across the country.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The EU has created poverty and unemployment for millions".Martin Callanan, the British Conservative frontman who scarcely sounds different to UKIP, chimed in: "The Nobel committee is a little late for an April fools joke.

The Economist

So when do we sign the contract?"' Pauvert, a round-faced man who looks scarcely any different now from the way he did in photographs when he was in his twenties, says he had known Dominique Aury 12 years before he was handed the book.

The Guardian - Books

For all the predictable party-line backing from his team and the management, who could scarcely say different, there can only have been disquiet when players were omitted to accommodate someone who was patently not justifying his place in playing terms.

The Guardian - Sport

The relationship between grime and the mainstream could scarcely be more different in 2011 – and nor could the recording of Pow 2011, a forthcoming reworking with a whole different selection of grime all-stars: "When I made the first one," Bizzle says, "I made one phone call, and everyone came to the studio the next day.

The Guardian - Music

The economies could scarcely be more different.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely different" to subtly highlight the lack of substantial distinction between two subjects, especially when precision is key. This phrase adds nuance compared to saying they are simply "similar".

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely different" when there are clear, significant differences. It should only be used when the dissimilarities are truly minor. Overusing it can mislead the reader about the extent of the variations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely different" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically intensifying the adjective "different". It serves to diminish the perceived degree of difference between two or more items, indicating that the variation is minimal. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and conveys a subtle comparison.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scarcely different" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that indicates a minimal distinction between two or more items. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is usable in written English. It functions as an intensifier to the adjective "different", downplaying the perceived variation. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles. When aiming for precision in comparisons, remember that alternatives like "hardly distinguishable" or "virtually the same" can offer similar nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly distinguishable

Emphasizes the difficulty in noticing any difference.

barely perceptible

Focuses on the subtlety of the difference, suggesting it's almost undetectable.

almost identical

Highlights the near sameness of the items being compared.

virtually the same

Indicates that the difference is so small it's practically negligible.

not significantly different

Emphasizes the lack of statistical or practical importance in the difference.

nearly indistinguishable

Similar to 'hardly distinguishable' but puts more weight on the difficulty.

little to no difference

Directly states that the variation is minimal or nonexistent.

negligibly different

Indicates the difference is so small it's not worth considering.

of little distinction

Highlights that the contrast isn't meaningful.

marginally different

Suggests the difference is present but very small.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely different" to compare two things that are very similar. For example, "The two versions of the software are "scarcely different", with only minor improvements in the user interface."

What are some alternatives to saying "scarcely different"?

Alternatives include "hardly distinguishable", "virtually the same", or "almost identical", depending on the context and the degree of similarity you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "scarcely different than" or "scarcely different from"?

While "scarcely different than" might be encountered, "scarcely different from" is the preferred and grammatically correct phrasing.

What's the difference between "scarcely different" and "slightly different"?

"Slightly different" indicates a small difference, while "scarcely different" suggests the difference is so small it's almost unnoticeable. "Scarcely different" emphasizes the minimal nature of the distinction to a greater degree.