scarcely exceeding

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely exceeding" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is just barely above a certain limit or threshold. Example: "The temperature was scarcely exceeding the freezing point, making it a chilly day for a walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Rock's replies scarcely exceeded "yes," or "no".

The New York Times

The Sicilian straits scarcely exceed 1,500 feet (460 metres) in depth, so that there is essentially a shelf from Tunisia to Sicily separating the Mediterranean into two parts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Although the common core of doctrine uniting its practitioners scarcely exceeds the platitudinous, a pattern of historical influence is not hard to discern.

SEP

Under a 1947 UN-sanctioned plan to partition Palestine, Israel would have been established on 55% of the former territory, and without a significant transfer of population the Jews in that territory would have scarcely exceeded the Arab population there.

BBC

Her meaning scarcely exceeds her vocabulary, nor does she pursue technique for its own sake.

Huffington Post

By contrast, low-pass filtered velocity scarcely exceeded the thresholds when compared with raw velocity.

Behavior Research Methods

His conduct was worthy of the experience and science of our most approved and veteran Admirals, while the ardour and promptitude with which his orders were obeyed and his plans executed by the several Captains under his command, may have been rivalled, but can scarcely be exceeded in the most renowned of our naval exploits.

Wikipedia

Indeed, at the end of the 20th century, information technology, an industry that scarcely existed 20 years earlier, exceeded the combined world trade in agriculture, automobiles, and textiles.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Vocabulary: cramped, exceed, spurred, depositions, incentives, prohibit, inevitably, scarcely, conspire, allotted, nonmanagerial, confront Extension Activities: 1. Create a poster highlighting special benefits companies offer above and beyond what is legally required.

The New York Times

The medullary vascular bundles scarcely change while the peripheral vascular bundles soon exceed the medullary vascular bundles (Fig. 2h), wide rays fully develop, and the sclerenchymatous ring remains continuous.

Botanical Studies

Physicians should therefore avoid letting risks that are secondary to therapy exceed the risks related to this scarcely aggressive neoplasm.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely exceeding" when you want to emphasize that something barely surpasses a limit or threshold. It adds a nuance of minimal excess.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely exceeding" when the amount surpassed is significant. This phrase indicates a minimal difference, so using it for larger excesses would be misleading.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial modifier. The phrase "scarcely exceeding" typically functions as an adverbial modifier, describing the degree to which something exceeds a particular value or threshold. As Ludwig AI confirms, it suggests a minimal amount of excess.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely exceeding" is a grammatically correct construction used to indicate that something just barely surpasses a specified limit. As Ludwig AI states, it's usable in written English to describe something that is just above a threshold. While not exceedingly common, it appears in a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific and encyclopedic sources. When using this phrase, be mindful of its precise meaning: it should only be applied when the amount exceeded is truly minimal. If you need alternatives, consider "barely surpassing" or "just exceeding".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely surpassing

Focuses on the act of surpassing with minimal margin.

just exceeding

Emphasizes the marginal nature of the exceeding.

hardly exceeding

Highlights the difficulty or improbability of exceeding by much.

slightly surpassing

Indicates a small amount of excess.

marginally exceeding

Stresses the narrow margin by which something is exceeded.

only just exceeding

Conveys a sense of barely making it past a certain point.

scarcely surpassing

Replaces exceeding with surpassing, maintaining a similar sense.

barely going over

Uses a more informal phrasing to convey the same meaning.

inching past

Suggests a slow and gradual movement past a threshold.

narrowly exceeding

Highlights the narrowness of the margin.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely exceeding" to describe something that only just goes above a certain level or amount. For example, "The temperature was scarcely exceeding the freezing point."

What can I say instead of "scarcely exceeding"?

Alternatives include "barely surpassing", "just exceeding", or "slightly surpassing" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "scarcely exceeding" or "slightly exceeding"?

It depends on the context. "Scarcely exceeding" implies a very small margin above a limit, while "slightly exceeding" suggests a small, but potentially more noticeable, amount.

Can "scarcely exceeding" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "scarcely exceeding" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when precision is needed to describe a minimal difference.