scarcely know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely know" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a very limited or minimal knowledge about something or someone. Example: "I scarcely know anyone in this city, which makes it hard to find friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

I scarcely know where to begin.

The Guardian - Books

I scarcely know why I persist at all.

The New Yorker

"People scarcely know I went to medical school," he said.

The New York Times

I discovered an America that millions of people scarcely know exists.

The New Yorker

"AS I sit down to write this letter, I scarcely know how to address you.

The New York Times - Books

Religious illiteracy cuts across generations, and the devout scarcely know more than the secular do.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

In his own lifetime, Blake's poetry was scarcely known.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Today, Silverheels's lacrosse exploits are scarcely known in Los Angeles.

The New York Times - Sports

His classes were too large; his professors scarcely knew him.

The New Yorker

Most was scarcely known beyond narrow circles of activists.

The Guardian - Opinion

The handful of administrators have scarcely known any other life.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely know" to express a minimal or limited level of familiarity or understanding. This is suitable when you want to emphasize that your knowledge is very basic or superficial.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely know" when you mean to convey complete ignorance or a total lack of awareness. "Scarcely know" implies some minimal level of acquaintance, not a complete void of knowledge. If there is a total lack of knowledge use phrases like "completely unaware" or "have no idea".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely know" functions as a verb phrase modifier, indicating the limited extent of one's knowledge or familiarity. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase effectively qualifies the verb "know", expressing a minimal level of acquaintance or understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Books

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scarcely know" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a minimal level of knowledge or familiarity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent usage. Predominantly found in news and media sources, as well as books, the phrase serves to convey a lack of deep understanding and is generally considered appropriate for neutral contexts. Alternatives such as "hardly know" and "barely know" offer similar meanings. When writing, it's important to use "scarcely know" when you intend to convey a limited degree of acquaintance, not complete ignorance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hardly know

This alternative is a direct synonym, offering nearly identical meaning and usage.

barely know

This alternative is a synonym, expressing a very slight or minimal acquaintance.

vaguely know

Indicates a lack of clear or detailed knowledge, suggesting a superficial understanding.

remotely know

Suggests a distant or indirect familiarity, implying a lack of close connection.

have little knowledge of

This alternative shifts from knowing a person to having limited information about a topic.

possess minimal understanding of

Focuses on comprehension rather than familiarity, implying a basic level of insight.

have a passing acquaintance with

Indicates a casual or superficial familiarity, often implying infrequent interaction.

not be well-acquainted with

This alternative phrases emphasizes a lack of established familiarity.

be unfamiliar with

Highlights a lack of prior exposure or knowledge about something or someone.

have a limited awareness of

Emphasizes the confined scope of recognition or insight.

FAQs

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

"Scarcely know" is used to indicate a minimal level of familiarity or understanding. For example, "I "scarcely know" anything about quantum physics" means your knowledge of the subject is very limited.

What's the difference between "scarcely know" and "barely know"?

The phrases "scarcely know" and "barely know" are near synonyms and can often be used interchangeably. Both indicate a minimal level of familiarity or understanding. The choice between them often depends on stylistic preference.

What can I say instead of "scarcely know"?

You can use alternatives like "hardly know", "vaguely know", or "remotely know" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I scarcely knowed"?

No, "I scarcely knowed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I "scarcely know"". "Knowed" is not a standard past participle of "know".