scarcely two weeks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scarcely two weeks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a very short amount of time has passed, often implying that something happened quickly or unexpectedly. Example: "Scarcely two weeks after the announcement, the project was already underway."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Scarcely three years ago, those rooms were $220 and $310, respectively.

The New York Times - Travel

When Fleming first built Goldeneye, there were scarcely 1,000 hotel beds on Jamaica.

The Guardian - Books

Scarcely a year ago, industry analysts were suggesting that Barnes & Noble was doomed to follow another giant book chain, Borders, into administration.

The Guardian - Books

Begun in January 2011 amid mass demonstrations in downtown Cairo, "Tahrir: Liberation Square" had its official premiere scarcely six months later at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

The New York Times

SCARCELY a week ago, when Bill Clinton lost his battle to get fast-track trade negotiating authority through Congress, his presidency was declared over.

The Economist

And here are the reflections of Canada's prime minister on the Führer who will launch the Second World War scarcely two years later.

Independent

Scarcely seven years ago, Japanese businessmen were the irresistible force, what Sax Rohmer used to call the Yellow Peril Incarnate, Walkmans in their ears and irredentism in their hearts.

The New Yorker

Apple sells BMW-quality goods (and makes BMW-quality products) to more people than it could ever have dreamed of scarcely a decade ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Scarcely a month later Halleck and Stanton called Lieber to Washington, where, on Dec. 12, they appointed him to work with a small board of advisers to revise the 1806 Articles of War.

The New York Times

The Seychelles, an archipelago of about ninety islands scattered across the northwestern Indian Ocean, were such islands until scarcely a decade ago, when the British, who had ruled since 1810, built an airport on the principal island, Mahe.

The New Yorker

Scarcely two months ago, our political leaders – and leader writers – were warning us all of the enormous danger posed by "home-grown" Islamists who were leaving Britain and other European countries and America to fight for the monsters of Isis.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scarcely two weeks" to emphasize the brevity of a period, often implying a surprising or unexpected event occurred within that short timeframe.

Common error

Avoid using "scarcely two weeks" when simply stating a duration. The phrase carries an implied sense of surprise or rapid occurrence, so ensure the context reflects this.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scarcely two weeks" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a short period of time. It typically emphasizes the brevity of the duration, suggesting something happened quickly or surprisingly within that timeframe. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scarcely two weeks" is a grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the briefness of a period, often implying surprise or rapid succession. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While specific examples are currently unavailable, the phrase is versatile and can be incorporated into diverse contexts. Given its construction and common usage, the phrase maintains a neutral formality level and communicates a sense of urgency or unexpected swiftness. When aiming for similar expressions, consider options like "barely a fortnight" or "hardly two weeks".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely a fortnight

Replaces "scarcely" with "barely" and "two weeks" with its synonym "fortnight".

hardly two weeks

Substitutes "scarcely" with "hardly", maintaining the same meaning of a short duration.

just under two weeks

Uses "just under" to approximate the short time frame.

a little less than two weeks

Expresses the duration with a bit more detail, specifying it's slightly shorter than two weeks.

not quite two weeks

Indicates that the period is close to two weeks but not fully reached.

almost two weeks

Indicates that the period is nearly two weeks.

close to two weeks

Highlights the proximity to the two-week mark.

nearly two weeks

Replaces "scarcely" with "nearly" to convey a similar meaning.

in under a fortnight

Uses "in under" to indicate the short period and replaces "two weeks" with "fortnight".

a short couple of weeks

Adds a descriptive adjective to emphasize the brevity of the period.

FAQs

How can I use "scarcely two weeks" in a sentence?

You can use "scarcely two weeks" to emphasize how little time has passed since an event, often implying surprise or urgency. For example, "Scarcely two weeks after the announcement, the project was already underway."

What can I say instead of "scarcely two weeks"?

You can use alternatives like "barely a fortnight", "hardly two weeks", or "just under two weeks" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "scarcely two weeks" or "almost two weeks"?

"Scarcely two weeks" emphasizes the short duration and often carries an implication of surprise or quick succession. "Almost two weeks" simply indicates that the period is nearing two weeks without necessarily implying surprise.

What is the difference between "scarcely two weeks" and "only two weeks"?

"Scarcely two weeks" often implies that something unexpected or significant happened within that short time. "Only two weeks" simply highlights that the duration is short, without necessarily implying surprise or rapid events.