scarcely functional

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely functional" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is barely working or not operating effectively. Example: "The old computer was scarcely functional, often freezing and crashing during use."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

You're barely functional.

The Guardian - Opinion

We unite bioinformatics resources and experimental data in order to accelerate the functional characterization of scarcely annotated domain families.

BMC Genomics

Along with, the effect of employing anchors as MCT-β-cyclodextrin on to the substrate's physical and functional performance had been reported scarcely.

Fashion and Textiles

Lymphangiogenesis is a scarcely studied process in PD and its involvement in PD functional disorders has recently been recognized [ 25].

BioMed Research International

So, it is scarcely surprising that young persons, who have no first-hand experience with a functioning and functional government, should retreat to personal relationships and communicate via media over which they have some control.

HuffPost

In these experiments, the functional recovery of the ischemic region determined by NCs treatment scarcely correlated with absolute numbers of transplant-derived cells observed in the brain, that greatly decreased within few days after transplantation in spite of the positive functional outcome.

Plosone

Between pathologically impaired consciousness and normal consciousness exists a scarcely researched transition zone, referred to as emergence from minimally conscious state, in which patients regain the capacity for functional communication, object use, or both.

The Lancet Neurology

Furthermore, scarcely any attention has been paid to the reliability and validity of the physician's judgment on assessing older patients' functional status in emergency departments, or how often emergency department physicians detect more disability than patients really suffer (overdiagnosis).

BMC Geriatrics

Despite the functional and therapeutic importance for patients with AD, intervention to rescue or normalize dendritic elaboration and synaptic plasticity is scarcely provided.

Cell Death and Disease

And they scarcely complained.

University of California, Berkeley

Now scarcely 10 per cent are.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scarcely functional", ensure the context clearly establishes what should be functional but is only marginally so. Provide specific details to illustrate the limited or impaired functionality.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely functional" when something is completely broken or non-operational. The phrase implies some degree of functionality, however minimal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely functional" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of limited or impaired functionality. It describes something that is still working, but only just. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scarcely functional" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase indicating that something is barely working or operating effectively. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. While it appears in various contexts, including science and news media, its frequency is limited. Related phrases include "barely working" and "hardly operational". When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly illustrates the limited functionality and avoid using it when something is completely non-operational.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely working

Focuses on the minimal level of operation.

hardly operational

Emphasizes the state of being operational, but only just.

marginally functional

Highlights that the functionality is at the margin or barely acceptable.

almost non-functional

Indicates a state very close to complete lack of function.

minimally functional

Stresses the limited extent of the functionality.

impaired functionality

Directly points to a reduced or damaged level of function.

weakly functional

Emphasizes the feebleness or weakness of the functionality.

tenuously functional

Suggests the functionality is fragile or uncertain.

nominally functional

Indicates functionality exists in name only, with limited practical effect.

questionably functional

Raises doubt about the reliability or effectiveness of the functionality.

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely functional" to describe something that still works, but not very well. For example: "The old computer was "scarcely functional", often freezing and crashing during use."

What can I say instead of "scarcely functional"?

You can use alternatives like "barely working", "hardly operational", or "marginally functional" depending on the context.

Is "scarcely functional" formal or informal?

"Scarcely functional" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in professional and technical writing due to its descriptive nature.

What's the difference between ""scarcely functional"" and "non-functional"?

"Scarcely functional" implies that something has minimal functionality, whereas "non-functional" means it does not work at all.