scarcely known

USAGE SUMMARY

"scarcely known" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to emphasize the lack of knowledge or understanding of something. For example, you could say: The artist's works are scarcely known outside of her home country.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 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

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

Most of them were scarcely known among ordinary citizens before the coup; now they are celebrities.

The Economist

Financial innovation of the sort that encouraged risk to multiply elsewhere is scarcely known in Japan.

The Economist

He is impressively trim for a 67-year-old, especially one scarcely known for self-discipline.

The New York Times

In 1856 he used the scarcely known phenomenon of electromagnetism to help stop a rebellion against colonial France in Algeria.

The Economist

Having grown up in Tanzania, he is still scarcely known to the Congolese, but many credit him with bringing peace.

The Economist

But a strong candidate for No. 2 is a company that is scarcely known outside the technology industry: VMware.

The New York Times - Tech

Dieudonné was scarcely known outside France before the Premiership footballer, Nicolas Anelka, performed the comedian's trade-mark, obscene gesture "la quenelle" after scoring a goal earlier this month.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scarcely known", ensure the context clearly indicates what group or population lacks knowledge. For example, "scarcely known outside the scientific community" specifies the limited awareness.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely known" when the subject is actually well-known but simply misunderstood. "Scarcely known" implies a basic lack of awareness, not a misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely known" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that the noun it modifies is not widely recognized or familiar. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples of the phrase in context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scarcely known" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe something with limited public awareness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions to emphasize obscurity and the need for greater recognition. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, this phrase maintains a neutral register. When employing "scarcely known", be sure the context explicitly states the limited awareness to particular groups. Alternatives such as "barely known" or "little known" can be used to provide similar nuances. The phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used, indicating its widespread acceptance in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely known

Emphasizes the minimal level of awareness, suggesting something is almost completely unknown.

little known

A straightforward alternative indicating a limited degree of familiarity.

poorly known

Highlights the inadequate level of knowledge or understanding about something.

rarely known

Focuses on the infrequency with which something is recognized or acknowledged.

sparsely known

Indicates that knowledge about something is thinly spread or limited in scope.

marginally known

Suggests that something is only known to a small extent or by a limited number of people.

virtually unknown

Implies that something is almost entirely unfamiliar or unrecognized.

largely unknown

Indicates that something is not known by the majority of people or in most contexts.

insufficiently known

Highlights that the available knowledge about something is not adequate or complete.

not widely recognized

Focuses on the lack of broad acknowledgment or acceptance of something.

FAQs

What does "scarcely known" mean?

The phrase "scarcely known" means that something is known or recognized by very few people; it suggests a lack of widespread awareness or familiarity.

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

You can use "scarcely known" to describe a person, place, thing, or idea that is not widely recognized. For example, "The artist was "virtually unknown" until her latest exhibition."

What are some alternatives to saying "scarcely known"?

Some alternatives to "scarcely known" include "barely known", "little known", "poorly known", and "not widely recognized". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scarcely known" the same as "unknown"?

No, "scarcely known" suggests a very limited awareness, whereas "unknown" implies a complete lack of knowledge. Something that is "scarcely known" has some level of recognition, however minimal, while something "unknown" has none.