scarcely know that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely know that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a very limited or minimal awareness of something. Example: "I scarcely know that he was planning to leave the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You scarcely know that you are in a school at all.

The New York Times

They write, for instance, that "a visitor who walked through Baghdad in June would scarcely know that the city had been bombed in March".

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But it was instantly plain that to admit adherence to New Critical precepts would shut me out from the seminar; so, just as instantly, I switched allegiance to the other side, though five minutes before I had scarcely known that there was another side.

The New Yorker

You may see them used in art quite a lot, but it's scarcely known that they are actually very good for make up too.

WikiHow

The Army's goal is to create a support network strong enough that the spouses will decide to wait out the deployment on the base in Germany, a country that many of them scarcely know and that pointedly declined to take part in the Iraq war.

The New York Times

So now we know that Isis is to the west of us on the old highway and that Isis is scarcely three – at the most eight – miles to the east of us.

Independent

You might wonder why Francis thought that he and his men, scarcely known at that time, could walk to Rome in their bare feet and get a hearing from the Pope.

The New Yorker

That's the true meaning of education, I think: to see skills and talents that pupils scarcely know they possess being nurtured.

Independent

"The whole thing is such unambiguously good news that I scarcely know where to begin," wrote the Mayor in a mischievous piece in The Daily Telegraph in which he claimed that he had also toyed with the idea of setting up a "Rejects' College" for bourgeois children who had failed to get a place at Oxbridge.

Independent

Desplechin's film is hard, funny, and upsetting, and even at the end we feel that we are only just getting to know these people, though it could be argued that they scarcely know themselves.

The New Yorker

There is so much so wrong here that I scarcely know where to begin.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely know that" when you want to emphasize a minimal or almost non-existent awareness of something. It adds a subtle nuance to your writing, suggesting a level of surprise or disbelief.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely know that" too frequently in very formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, it can sometimes sound less sophisticated than alternatives like "are minimally aware that" or "have limited knowledge of".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely know that" functions as a qualifier, indicating a minimal level of awareness or knowledge about a particular fact or situation. It modifies the verb "know" to express a limited understanding, as seen in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scarcely know that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey minimal awareness or knowledge. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves as a qualifier to indicate limited understanding. It is versatile across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and general writing. While generally neutral in register, it's best to avoid overuse in overly formal contexts in favor of alternatives such as "are minimally aware that". To avoid common errors, always consider the overall tone and context of your writing when choosing between "scarcely know that" and its synonyms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely aware that

Uses a synonym for "know" while maintaining the original meaning.

barely realize that

Emphasizes a minimal level of awareness.

just barely know that

Adds emphasis to the minimal knowledge.

hardly recognize that

Highlights a low level of recognition or acknowledgement.

little realize that

Focuses on the lack of realization.

faintly aware that

Indicates a weak or vague awareness.

have minimal awareness that

Rephrases the concept using "minimal awareness".

marginally conscious that

Suggests a very slight level of consciousness.

only vaguely know that

Highlights the vagueness of the knowledge.

are hardly cognizant that

Uses more formal synonyms for "scarcely" and "know".

FAQs

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

You can use "scarcely know that" to indicate a minimal awareness of something. For example, "They "scarcely know that" their actions have consequences".

What is a synonym for "scarcely know that"?

A synonym for "scarcely know that" is "barely realize that". It conveys a similar meaning of limited awareness.

Is it correct to say "I scarcely knew that"?

Yes, "I scarcely knew that" is grammatically correct. It means you had very little or almost no knowledge of something at a particular time.

What's the difference between "scarcely know that" and "hardly know that"?

"Scarcely know that" and "hardly know that" are very similar in meaning. They both indicate a limited awareness or knowledge, and can often be used interchangeably.